Singapore foreign affairs minister visits North Korea, agrees to boost ties: reports

Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan held talks with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui in Pyongyang on Tuesday, with both sides agreeing to deepen bilateral relations and expand cooperation, according to North Korean state media reports released yesterday, cited by Nikkei Asia.

Balakrishnan arrived in the North Korean capital earlier Tuesday for meetings focused on strengthening diplomatic exchanges and discussing regional and international issues.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said the two ministers discussed ways to develop ties “in a multifaceted way” through increased exchanges and broader cooperation.

The visit comes as Singapore maintains cautious but open diplomatic engagement with North Korea amid ongoing regional tensions. Singapore previously played a significant diplomatic role in 2018 when it hosted the landmark summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then-U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to Nikkei, before arriving in Pyongyang, Balakrishnan met China’s top diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday. He is expected to travel to Seoul today (Thursday) for talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun.