Japanese PM Visits Cuba For First Time in History

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe paid a historic visit to Cuba, becoming the first Japanese leader to visit the Caribbean nation, media reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The NHK broadcaster reported on Thursday that Abe arrived in Cuba for summit talks with President Raul Castro to seek Havana's assistance in responding to Pyongyang's nuclear activities.

The leader of Japan, which did not have diplomatic relations, asked his Cuban counterpart to use Cuba's ties with North Korea to respond to the issue, the broadcaster added.

According to the media outlet, Abe and Castro discussed Chinese maritime activities, as well as promotion of Japanese investment in the Caribbean country.

Japanese PM Abe visits Cuba in historic meeting https://t.co/8wxp1gwk0i pic.twitter.com/UN7eVLZa5B

— Press TV (@PressTV) 23 сентября 2016 г.

​During the visit, Abe met former Cuban President Fidel Castro, who transferred his presidential duties to his brother Raul in 2008.

Abe's visit came amid a thaw of relations between Cuba and a number of other countries, including the United States and the EU member states.

North Korea has been under pressure from the international community since its January nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch in February, which resulted in tightening sanctions against Pyongyang in the new UN Security Council resolution in March.