He expressed support to the Cuban party, government and people in their struggle to firmly defend the revolution and socialism by carrying forward the idea and cause of Fidel Castro Ruz. He also expressed the will to steadily develop the bilateral friendly relations with long history and traditions.

Raul Castro Ruz said that Marshal Kim Jong Un immediately sent a high-level delegation to Cuba to express condolences over the death of Fidel Castro Ruz, adding that it is a striking example showing how much importance Kim Jong Un is attaching to the relations with Cuba.

He expressed sincere gratitude to Kim Jong Un for visiting the Cuban Embassy in Pyongyang in person, making an entry in the mourner's book and making sure that a three-day condolatory period was fixed.

He reaffirmed that Cuba would more firmly strengthen the ties with the DPRK than ever before to steadily develop the friendly ties provided by the preceding leaders of the two countries and would always struggle against imperialism together.

He wished Kim Jong Un good health and greater success in his work.

Meanwhile, during the mourning period Choe Ryong Hae met Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, first vice-president of the Council of State of Cuba and first vice-president of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Leopoldo Cintra Frias, minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, Alvaro Lopez Miera, first vice-minister and chief of the General Staff of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, and Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba.