Vivian Balakrishnan, who drew international attention after taking a selfie with Kim Jong Un during the 2018 North Korea-U.S. summit in Singapore, is set to visit South Korea following consecutive trips to China and North Korea.
As attention grows over the future of the Korean Peninsula following the recent U.S.-China summit and speculation about a possible North Korea-China summit and Beijing’s potential role in mediating dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington, some observers cautiously predict that Singapore’s top diplomat — whose country previously played a mediating role in U.S.-North Korea talks — could provide indirect insight into North Korea’s future diplomatic direction through his back-to-back visits to both Koreas.
According to North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun on May 27, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with Balakrishnan at Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang after the Singaporean minister arrived there the previous day.
The newspaper said the two sides exchanged views on strengthening exchanges and cooperation between their diplomatic authorities, advancing bilateral relations, and regional and international issues.
Choe reportedly reaffirmed “the government’s position to strengthen and develop friendly and cooperative relations between North Korea and Singapore in line with the aspirations and desires of the peoples of the two countries.”
Balakrishnan has been traveling through China, North Korea and South Korea since May 24.
He became internationally known during the 2018 North Korea-U.S. summit in Singapore after accompanying Kim on a nighttime tour and later posting a selfie they took together on social media.
The visit is considered unusual in itself because it marks the first trip to South Korea by a Singaporean foreign minister in 20 years. Analysts say the itinerary is even more noteworthy because Balakrishnan is arriving in Seoul after visiting both China and North Korea, two central players in Korean Peninsula affairs.
That has led some experts to speculate that the purpose of his visit extends beyond simply advancing bilateral ties between South Korea and Singapore.
Diplomatic observers note that Singapore has maintained relatively stable relations with North Korea while pursuing a foreign policy that avoids alignment with any specific geopolitical bloc.
Analysts say North Korea may also have felt relatively comfortable speaking candidly about recent regional developments with Singapore, which Pyongyang likely views as a less politically burdensome counterpart.
Singapore and North Korea established diplomatic relations in 1975.
Singapore has previously played an active role in issues involving North Korea beyond hosting the 2018 summit between Pyongyang and Washington.
One example came in 2009, when former South Korean presidential chief of staff Im Tae-hee reportedly held a private meeting in Singapore with former Workers’ Party official Kim Yang Gon, who oversaw inter-Korean affairs before his death in 2015.
The South Korean government is also closely monitoring the outcome of Balakrishnan’s visit to North Korea.
South Korean Unification Minister Jung Dong-young said the previous day, “This is the first time that someone who visited North Korea is coming to South Korea and explaining what was discussed there,” adding that he is coordinating a meeting with Balakrishnan.
Balakrishnan’s official schedule in South Korea includes talks May 28 with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, though unofficial meetings with government officials, including Jung, could also take place.
Still, the prevailing assessment is that Balakrishnan is unlikely to be acting as a “messenger” delivering North Korean messages to Seoul.
Analysts say that given North Korea’s strong hostility toward South Korea, the possibility of Pyongyang relaying messages to Seoul through a third party remains low.
Instead, observers say Balakrishnan’s visit could provide an indirect opportunity to gauge how North Korea views the current situation on the Korean Peninsula and whether Pyongyang may adjust its diplomatic strategy, which has recently grown closer to Russia.