Their meeting came after Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan's visit to North Korea earlier this week as part of a regional tour that also included China. During his trip to Pyongyang last Tuesday, Balakrishnan met with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui.
Cho was quoted as saying that it is important for Singapore and other ASEAN countries to continue engaging North Korea, as this could help build momentum for talks with Pyongyang. Balakrishnan agreed that the two countries should work closely together to support peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, according to the ministry.
Balakrishnan also said South Korea and Singapore share key values such as free trade and multilateralism, and he expressed hope for closer cooperation in areas including trade, advanced technologies, and emerging industries.
The two ministers also discussed the prolonged conflict in the Middle East, stressing that keeping global shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz open and safe is vital for both countries' security and economic stability.
Later in the day, Balakrishnan also met with Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, though details of their meeting were not disclosed.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Chung said he "deeply appreciated" Singapore's constructive role in addressing issues on the Korean Peninsula.
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