Singapore foreign minister in North Korea on rare trip to two Koreas

Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan held rare talks with North Korea’s Choe Son Hui in Pyongyang, discussing ways to strengthen bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues. The visit underscores renewed diplomatic engagement, with Balakrishnan set to travel next to South Korea following his stop in the North.

Jack Kim/Reuters

May 27, 2026

Singapore foreign minister in North Korea on rare trip to two Koreas

Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting ahead of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in Cebu City, Philippines, May 7, 2026.

Eloisa Lopez/Reuters

Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan met his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui on Tuesday in Pyongyang and discussed strengthening bilateral ties, KCNA state news agency said on Wednesday.

Balakrishnan and Choe also exchanged views on regional and global affairs, KCNA said without elaborating.

Balakrishnan is expected to visit South Korea following his stop in the North, a rare trip to both Koreas by a Singaporean envoy.

Balakrishnan was a member of cabinet in Singapore when it hosted the first summit meeting between the leaders of North Korea and the United States in 2018.

U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a joint statement agreeing in June 2018 to open new peaceful relations and work on ending Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

Trump has said he wants to meet Kim again for talks and that they have a good relationship, but North Korea has not directly responded to the overtures.

-Jack Kim/Reuters