Today is the day which marks the 5 th anniversary of the demise of Comrade Fidel Castro Ruz, the historic leader of the Cuban revolution.

Not only the Cuban people but all progressive humankind of the world look back with deep emotions on the life and feats of Comrade Fidel Castro Ruz, the prominent statesman who made distinguished contributions to the Cuban revolution and to the accomplishment of the cause of independence against imperialism.

Comrade Fidel Castro Ruz had overthrown the dictatorial regime of Batista and won the victory of the revolution through the armed struggle in his early years. Since then, he had achieved many feats in the course of leading the socialist construction in the Cuba to victory and developing the external relations in a multi-faceted way.

In March 1986, President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il had met with warm hearts Comrade Fidel Castro Ruz who paid a visit to the DPRK and reached an important agreement for deepening the militant ties of friendship between the peoples of the DPRK and the Cuba who stand together at the forefront of anti-imperialism and anti-U.S. struggle and for strengthening and developing the bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation, and gave perfect answers to theoretical and practical issues arising in the socialist construction and international communist movement.

Comrade Fidel Castro Ruz made a great contribution to the development of friendly relations between the two countries, always keeping in mind the meeting with President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il during his visit to the DPRK and being grateful for our active support to the Cuban revolution.

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , personally sent a message of condolence and wreath on November 25, 2016 over the demise of Comrade Fidel Castro Ruz, and immediately dispatched a high-level Party and state delegation to the Republic of Cuba so as to convey the deepest condolence of the Korean people sent to the Cuban people as soon as possible.

He also visited the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Pyongyang to share the sorrow over the demise of Fidel Castro Ruz with the Cuban comrades and made an entry in the mourner’s book as follows:

“Though the outstanding leader passed away , his name and feats will always be remembered by all of us . We feel pain of the loss of great Comrade , great comrade - in - arms .  Kim Jong Un ”.

Even in the period after the demise of Comrade Fidel Castro Ruz, Comrade Kim Jong Un , out of noble sense of duty to internationalism, has deepened friendly relations with Comrade Raul Castro Ruz and Comrade Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez in order to invariably develop the DPRK-Cuba relations of friendship which have been provided by the preceding leaders of the two countries, and has made energetic efforts to develop the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries onto a higher level in line with the requirements of developing times.

The Cuban people are now making vigorous efforts to invariably defend the socialism, smashing all kinds of challenges by the hostile forces. In this course, they have scored many successes.

We always extend full support and solidarity to the efforts of the Cuban people to safeguard the sovereignty of the country and the gains of revolution and to advance the socialist cause towards victory.