South Korea and Cuba establish ties, rattling North Korea

South Korea has scored a diplomatic victory against its rivals in Pyongyang by establishing formal ties with the government in Cuba, long seen as North Korea's unshakeable ally. In mid-February, Seoul announced it would be opening a diplomatic mission in Havana, Cuba's capital, to help South Korean companies gain a new foothold in the Caribbean, provide a new outlet to promote Korean culture and enable the island nation to benefit from new sources of development and other assistance. The South Korean government did not mention whether the move would impact Cuba's traditionally close relations with North Korea. Advertisement However, analysts…