Singapore's Foreign Minister Says North Korea Uninterested in Talks with US-South Korea

Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan recently visited Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea (NK), in a rare trip to the isolated nation. Balakrishnan stated that NK appears uninterested in diplomacy with the United States (US) and South Korea (ROK). He assessed that Pyongyang is prioritising strengthening its own self-reliance and military deterrence. The foreign minister’s remarks, reported by AFP on Friday, 29 May 2026, were made to local media in Seoul on Thursday evening after completing his first visit to Pyongyang in eight years, marking half a century of diplomatic relations between Singapore and NK. ‘At present, they… seem uninterested in any external engagement, whether with America or with ROK,’ Balakrishnan said. ‘Instead, they are focused on building their own self-reliance and military deterrence,’ he added after a two-day working visit to NK. In recent months, NK has escalated criticism of South Korea, labelling it a ‘most hostile state’ and removing all references to Korean Peninsula reunification from its constitution. Balakrishnan noted NK’s increasingly hardline stance on reunification. ‘Currently, [NK] is not seeking opportunities for significant talks or engagement,’ he said. Despite minimal trade between the two countries, relations between Singapore and NK remain cordial. Balakrishnan invited Pyongyang to attend a regional forum organised by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In a Facebook post, Balakrishnan shared a video describing Pyongyang as ‘a modern, clean, and well-planned city.’ ‘It has made significant progress since my last visit eight years ago. The streets are busy, there are more cars on the road, and many new buildings and developments,’ he said. Balakrishnan urged ‘strategic patience’ in dealing with NK. ‘Do not worsen the situation or exacerbate the problem, but look for long-term opportunities to help or open communication channels,’ the Singaporean foreign minister stated.