Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hopes to gain support from the Cuban government, with its close ties to Pyongyang, in dealing with North Korea's nuclear provocations and also expand economic ties when he makes the first ever visit by a Japanese leader to the communist nation this week.

Abe is to meet with Cuban President Raul Castro and his brother, Fidel Castro, the former president and an icon of the Cuban revolution.

Cuba normalized diplomatic ties last year with the U.S., its former archenemy. The move led to President Barack Obama's historic visit to Cuba earlier this year.