A delegation of Cuban economic officials and businessmen will visit Seoul this week to seek ways for increased bilateral trade and investment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Sunday.

The Cuban delegation, the first of its kind to South Korea, will stay in the South Korean capital until Friday from Monday, the ministry said in a statement.

South Korea does not have diplomatic ties with the Caribbean island state.

Havana, meanwhile, established diplomatic relations with Pyongyang in 1960.

Cuba's longtime leader Fidel Castro visited the North Korean capital in 1986 to meet with then North Korean leader Kim Il-sung. Cuba signed a free trade pact with North Korea in 1997.

The Cubans will meet with relevant ministry officials and visit the Korea Trade Promotion Agency, Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Mobis and Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co.

"This will be the first official Cuban delegation to South Korea," a ministry official said. "We expect the delegation will serve as a catalyst for the enhancement of mutual cooperation between South Korea and Cuba in a diverse fields afterward." (Yonhap)