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North Korea’s foreign minister met with his Cuban counterpart on Wednesday
The hermit kingdom appears to be desperately seeking allies as world sanctions cripple its economic and military output.
The two communist ministers called for “respect for peoples’ sovereignty” and “the peaceful settlement of disputes”, according to a statement from the Cuban foreign ministry.
It added: “They strongly rejected the unilateral and arbitrary lists and designations established by the US government which serve as a basis for the implementation of coercive measures which are contrary to international law.
“On the situation on the Korean Peninsula, they expressed concern about the escalation of tensions.
“The ministers discussed the respective efforts carried out in the construction of socialism according to the realities inherent to their respective countries.”
Both Cuba and North Korea are the last two countries in the world to maintain a style of communism that can be likened to that of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
In addition to launching a flurry of insults towards Kim Jong-un, Donald Trump has also taken an aggressive stance towards the island that sits just 90 miles from US mainland.
Earlier this year the Republican firebrand announced the tightening of regulations towards Cuba and called Barack Obama’s deal that attempted to bring détente between the neighbours “terrible”.
Shock footage stills of North Korean defector escaping across border
Wed, November 22, 2017
Dramatic footage of a North Korean soldier’s defection released on November 22 showed him racing across the border under fire from former comrades, and then being hauled to safety by South Korean troops. The defector, who ran across the border at the Panmunjom truce village on November 13, was shot at least four times and has been recovering in a South Korean hospital
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A North Korean Korean People’s Army (KPA) defector driving along a road leading to the truce village of Panmunjom
He added: “We will not be silenced in the face of communist oppression any longer.”
Ignoring the swathe of insults that have been hurled his way from despot leader Kim Jong-un, the President recently announced the United States would re-design North Korea as a “sponsor of terror”, triggering “very large” sanction on the already heavily-disciplined state.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the decision was taken to close “a few loopholes” in the US strategy towards North Korea.
Speaking at the White House, Mr Tillerson said: “I think it is very symbolic on the one hand because it just points out again what a rogue regime this is. How brutal this regime is and how little they care about the value of human life.
“I think in that in of itself makes a strong statement on the nature of this regime.
“As I’ve said the practical effects may be limited but we’re hopefully closing off a few loopholes with this.”
He remarked Mr Trump’s tour of Asia helped the United States strengthen its relationship with allies in the region and helped to gather support against the Kim regime.
Mr Tillerson said: “This is all part of this strategy of continuing to turn the pressure up. And we continue to turn the pressure up on North Korea by getting other countries to join and take action on their own.
“During our visit to Vietnam, they have committed that they are going to curtail activities further with North Korea. Malaysia has indicated their curtailment. Singapore has cut off all trade with North Korea. The Philippines have cut off all trade.
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Trump called Barack Obama’s deal with Cuba that attempted to bring détente ‘terrible’
“This is taking effect all around the world and we think, as it takes effect, this continues to tighten the pressure on the Kim regime with an intention to have him understand this is only going to get worse.”
North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric against the United States and its allies has sparked fears of World War 3 across the globe.
Over the summer, Pyongyang undertook several missile tests and repeatedly threatened the US territory of Guam and Japan.
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Donald Trump has taken an aggressive stance towards Cuba
The designation of Kim Jong-un’s regime allowed the US to impose more sanctions that were announced on Tuesday affecting North Korean shipping companies and Chinese trading companies as it pushes the rogue state into complete isolation.
President Donald Trump said: “In addition to threatening the world by nuclear devastation, North Korea has repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism, including assassinations on foreign soil.”
He added that North Korea, who was removed from the list in 2008 under then-President George W Bush, should have been re-listed “a long time ago”.