Singapore Foreign Minister Visits North Korea After 8 Years

The foreign ministers of North Korea and Singapore met in Pyongyang this week, marking the first such high-level visit in eight years and signaling a potential diplomatic opening in the region. Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan held talks with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui, on Tuesday, with discussions focusing on strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation in multiple areas, as well as regional and international matters.

Balakrishnan’s visit is part of a five-day Northeast Asia tour that also includes stops in China and South Korea. He was greeted upon arrival in Pyongyang by senior North Korean officials and attended a welcoming dinner hosted by the North’s foreign ministry. The timing of the Pyongyang stop, immediately preceding his scheduled arrival in Seoul on Thursday, has drawn attention for its potential to facilitate indirect communication between the two Koreas.

Singapore has maintained a relatively cordial relationship with North Korea over the years, most notably serving as the neutral venue for the historic 2018 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. This longstanding role as an intermediary...