North Korea Not Ready to Talk to US or South Korea; Singapore Won't Seek Mediator Role: Vivian Balakrishnan
Balakrishnan urged Pyongyang to keep dialogue open and attend the ASEAN Regional Forum, as Singapore said the two sides held wide-ranging talks on security.
- Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan visited Pyongyang on May 26 and 27, urging North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum and emphasizing that dialogue remains crucial amid global uncertainty.
- This rare diplomatic "double" followed Balakrishnan's visit to China between May 24 and 26, where he met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi; the trip coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and North Korea.
- Balakrishnan noted North Korea's deepening ties with Russia and cited Pyongyang's "outright, categorical rejection of reunification" with South Korea, observing that the country is not yet ready to open significant communication channels with the United States, Japan, or South Korea.
- In Seoul on Thursday, Balakrishnan met South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who requested Singapore's support in creating conditions for dialogue with the North, as both sides agreed on regional peace and freedom of navigation.
- The upcoming ARF meeting may offer a chance for South Korea to indirectly gauge North Korea's interest in dialogue; despite the volatile backdrop on the Korean Peninsula, Singapore aims to maintain its role as a constructive mediator.
12 Articles
12 Articles
N Korea not keen to engage with the US or S Korea: Singapore FM
North Korea does not seem keen to engage with the United States, South Korea or Japan and is focused on building up its self-reliance and military deterrence, Singapore’s foreign minister said following a trip to the reclusive state. According to a transcript shared by the foreign ministry, Vivian Balakrishnan spoke to Singaporean media on Thursday after a visit to both Koreas respectively on May 26 and 27. His last trip to North Korea was in 20…
Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who is visiting North Korea and South Korea in succession, is drawing attention for posting a video on his social media on the 28th, the day of his arrival in South Korea, that provides a detailed look at Pyongyang. On the 28th, Minister Balakrishnan uploaded a 32-second video to Facebook. The video features high-rise buildings and apartments in Pyongyang, a neatly organized downtown area, and citi…
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