FM Cho seeks Singapore's support for dialogue with N. Korea, peace on Korean Peninsula

Lead

South Korea has sought Singapore's support in fostering conditions for dialogue with North Korea, as senior officials held a series of meetings with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Seoul this week. The diplomatic exchanges come amid ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and follow Balakrishnan's rare visit to Pyongyang, where he met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting from Yonhap News Agency, which provided extensive coverage of the visit, indicates that Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met Balakrishnan on Thursday and directly requested support from Singapore and other ASEAN member states in creating an environment conducive to dialogue with North Korea. According to the foreign ministry, Cho also heard about Balakrishnan's visit to North Korea and explained Seoul's policies and efforts toward peaceful coexistence on the peninsula.

Separately, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac met with Balakrishnan on the same day, according to the presidential office. Wi and Balakrishnan exchanged views on the security situation on the peninsula, with Balakrishnan sharing the results of his North Korea visit. The presidential office said Wi voiced hopes that Singapore would play a constructive role in building peace on the peninsula, recalling Singapore's hosting of the 2018 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Key Claims

• South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Seoul on May 28, 2026, according to reports from Yonhap News Agency.
• Cho asked for Singapore's support in creating conditions conducive to dialogue with North Korea, as reported by Yonhap citing the foreign ministry.
• Balakrishnan visited North Korea before coming to South Korea, where he met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, according to state media reports carried by Yonhap.
• Singapore has maintained cordial relations with North Korea and hosted the first U.S.-North Korea summit in 2018, as noted in multiple reports.
• The two ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional and international developments, according to the foreign ministry.
• National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac met with Balakrishnan and discussed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, as reported by Yonhap citing the presidential office.
• The two sides also shared views on the ongoing Middle East conflict, with both expressing support for diplomatic efforts and stressing the need to normalize freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the presidential office.

Perspectives

South Korean officials expressed a cautious but hopeful outlook regarding North Korea's potential return to dialogue. In an exclusive interview with Yonhap, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun acknowledged that there are "no visible signs of North Korea returning to dialogue" but conveyed Seoul's willingness to engage, adding that he believed the North would "eventually respond" to efforts to ease tensions and establish peace, "even if only gradually."

Balakrishnan, for his part, stressed the need for close communication between South Korea and Singapore to promote peace and stability on the peninsula, according to the foreign ministry. His visit to Pyongyang marked the first by a Singaporean foreign minister in eight years and was seen by analysts as potentially offering Seoul an indirect window into North Korea's interest in dialogue.

North Korea's state media, as cited by Yonhap, reported that Choe and Balakrishnan discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and deepen cooperation in "multiple areas," as well as regional and international matters. The reports did not indicate any specific statements from North Korean officials regarding dialogue with South Korea.

Inter-Korean relations remain frosty, with North Korea maintaining a "two hostile states" policy toward South Korea, according to Yonhap's reporting. Cho noted that the possibility of U.S.-North Korea talks "always remains open," but suggested that the issue has been "pushed down the U.S.' list of priorities."

This article is based on reporting from Yonhap News Agency, which provided comprehensive coverage of the meetings. No other news outlets were included in the available material.