North Korea appears to be replacing its top envoy to Cuba after South Korea established diplomatic relations with Cuba last month.

According to Cuba’s state media and the Cuban presidential office on Saturday, North Korea’s Ambassador to Cuba Ma Chol-su paid a visit to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel the previous day before concluding his mission.

Diaz-Canel shared a short video of Friday's meeting with Ma on X, the former Twitter platform, saying that he assured the Asian country that it can always count on the support, solidarity and friendship of the Caribbean nation in all areas.

The Cuban president reportedly said that the two nations share a deep belief in building socialism based on friendship, mutual respect, solidarity and cooperation, as well as a common struggle against United States imperialism.

Ma reportedly received the Friendship Medal from the Cuban Foreign Ministry that day in recognition of his five-year diplomatic service in Cuba.

Ambassador Ma's successor is unknown.

The replacement comes after a surprise announcement by South Korea and Cuba on February 14 on their establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, sparking speculation that the announcement might have influenced the replacement.