Seoul, Havana Consider Possibility of Diplomatic Ties Restoration

South Korea and Cuba discuss the possibility to re-establish diplomatic relations between the two states, but it is hard to speak about the terms of such move implementation, South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Lim Sung-nam said Tuesday.

TOKYO (Sputnik) — Earlier in month, South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se made the first visit of the head of country's foreign service to Cuba since the two nations severed relations following the Cuban Revolution of 1953-1959. During the visit, Yun met his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and discussed a number of bilateral issues.

"It is hard to say, when it [the resumption] would happen," Lim said, as quoted by KBS TV channel, adding that the efforts to establish diplomatic ties "will bring specific and official results."

He added that Seoul had been making efforts to improve relations with Havana, despite the existing differences between them, since the ties deteriorated.

A thaw in relations between Seoul and Havana has become possible after the ties between Cuba and the United States began to improve. Such developments took place after US President Barack Obama announced in December 2014 a historic change in US policy, including the loosening of the congressionally mandated trade and travel embargo on Cuba.