SINGAPORE – Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has encouraged North Korea to engage constructively with the region and to keep channels open for dialogue, including by attending the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), stressing that such communication is more important than ever amid the ongoing global uncertainty.
Dr Balakrishnan was in North Korea on May 26 and 27 at the invitation of his counterpart, Ms Choe Son Hui, as part of a broader trip through North-east Asia, which also includes China and South Korea.
“We had a candid and wide-ranging exchange of views on regional security and international developments. I expressed my hope that our countries would continue to do our part to support peace and stability amid the challenging developments in the region,” Dr Balakrishnan said in a Facebook post on May 27, referring to his talks with Ms Choe.
Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement that he invited Ms Choe to attend the ARF, a diplomatic and security dialogue. North Korea has been a member of the forum since 2000.
“Our ties are friendly, built on mutual respect and continued engagement over the decades,” Dr Balakrishnan wrote on Facebook.
Both ministers also reaffirmed the “longstanding cordial and friendly relations” between Singapore and North Korea, said MFA. Dr Balakrishnan was also hosted to a welcome banquet by Ms Choe.
The visit comes as Singapore and North Korea marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025 and took place against a more volatile backdrop on the Korean peninsula. Pyongyang said on May 27 that it test-fired new missile weapon systems, raising fresh concerns over security and stability in the region.