On Saturday, Miguel Díaz-Canel took to social media to extend congratulations to Kim Jong Un and the members of the Workers' Party of Korea on the occasion of its 81st anniversary. The message was accompanied by a photo of the two leaders shaking hands in front of the flags of Cuba and North Korea.
"Congratulations to comrade Kim Jong Un and all the members of the Workers' Party of Korea on the 81st anniversary of its founding. We reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the historic ties of friendship between both Parties and peoples," wrote the Cuban leader.
The Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, also joined in the greetings, expressing, according to the state-run Prensa Latina, the desire to strengthen "brotherhood, solidarity, and cooperation" between the two nations.
A Wave of Criticism from Cubans
The post quickly sparked a flurry of critical and mocking comments from Cubans on social media, who saw the gesture as a sign of complicity between authoritarian regimes.
One user, Ore Esco, sarcastically commented, "Cooperation in torture chambers."
Another commentator, Frank Michel Velazquez Santiesteban, was more direct: "Not a shred of shame! In life, everything comes back around, and I think it will happen soon. No evil lasts a hundred years, nor can a country endure it. Tick tock, tick tock."
Melissa Frontela Vázquez captured the sentiment of many with her remark: "This is frighteningly amusing."
Flor Alelis added a bit of irony that mirrors the mood on the Island: "Even they are better off than in Cuba."
Diplomatic Gestures Amidst Domestic Struggles
The congratulatory message to Kim comes just three days after Díaz-Canel extended birthday wishes to Vladimir Putin on his 74th birthday, a gesture that also angered many Cubans. They pointed out the contradiction of praising foreign authoritarian leaders while the Island suffers from power outages lasting over twenty hours daily and a severe water supply crisis.
Back in April 2026, Díaz-Canel congratulated Kim on his re-election as chairman of the State Affairs Commission, pledging that Cuba would "make every possible effort" to help North Korea overcome the pressure from "hostile forces."
Cuba and North Korea have maintained diplomatic relations since 1960, and the ties between the Communist Party of Cuba and the Workers' Party of Korea have been a constant theme in the official rhetoric of both governments, grounded in the defense of socialism and opposition to what they call foreign interference.
In November 2018, Díaz-Canel visited Pyongyang and met with Kim Jong Un. Each of these diplomatic gestures has consistently elicited reactions from Cubans, who view them as solidarity among dictators while the populace faces an unprecedented crisis.
"No evil lasts a hundred years, nor can a country endure it," Velazquez Santiesteban reiterated in his comment, a phrase echoed by those who shared it as a reminder that the patience of the Cuban people has its limits.
Criticism of Cuba-North Korea Relations
Why did Díaz-Canel congratulate Kim Jong Un?
Díaz-Canel congratulated Kim Jong Un on the 81st anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea to reaffirm Cuba's commitment to their historic ties and friendship.
How did Cubans react to Díaz-Canel's congratulations?
Many Cubans reacted critically and mockingly on social media, viewing it as a sign of complicity between authoritarian regimes.
What other recent diplomatic gestures has Díaz-Canel made?
Díaz-Canel recently wished Vladimir Putin a happy 74th birthday, which also drew criticism from Cubans who are facing severe domestic issues.