Singaporean Foreign Minister Makes Rare Visit to North Korea; Korean Peninsula Situation Gains Attention

North Korea's state media, KCNA, reported on the 27th that Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Pyongyang to discuss strengthening bilateral relations. Reuters reported that the two sides also exchanged views on regional and global affairs, though no further details were provided. Balakrishnan is expected to visit South Korea after his trip to North Korea, a rare itinerary for a Singaporean diplomat to visit both Koreas. Singapore hosted the first summit between the US and North Korea in 2018, and international observers are watching closely to see if this visit signals a new diplomatic development.