Cuban President Raul Castro met with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho on Friday amid hopes the communist-run island might be able to convince its Asian ally to avert a showdown with the United States.
North Korea is facing unprecedented pressure from the United States and the international community to cease its nuclear weapons and missile programs. Cuba has maintained close diplomatic ties with North Korea since 1960 but is opposed to nuclear weapons.
"In the brotherly encounter, both sides commented on the historic friendship between the two nations and talked about international topics of mutual interest," Cuban state television said on its midday broadcast.