North Korea is not ready to open meaningful channels of dialogue with the United States, South Korea, or Japan, Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said following his recent visit to Pyongyang.
Balakrishnan made the remarks in an interview with Singaporean media on the 28th regarding his visit to North Korea on the 26th and 27th of this month. "Instead, North Korea is focusing on self-reliance and strengthening its military deterrence," he added. During the trip, he met with Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and Cho Yong-won, chairman of the standing committee of the Supreme People's Assembly. On the 28th, he held talks in South Korea with National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, among others. At that meeting, Cho asked Balakrishnan for the interest and support of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in creating conditions for dialogue with North Korea.
Balakrishnan, who had also visited North Korea eight years ago, cited "a clear and firm rejection of unification with South Korea" as the most significant change from the past. He said this position appears to have solidified recently, noting that "North Korea does not acknowledge the possibility of unification at all." He went on to stress the importance of "strategic patience" by South Korea and the United States, advising that "from a long-term perspective, opportunities should be sought to help North Korea or to open channels of dialogue."
