Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan met China’s International Minister Liu Haixing on May 26, 2026 as part of a regional trip that includes rare visits to both North and South Korea. — Picture from Facebook/Vivian Balakrishnan (New users only) It's tax relief season! Get up to RM300 when you save with Versa! Plus, enjoy an additional FREE RM10 when you sign up using code VERSAMM10 with a min. cash-in of RM100 today. T&Cs apply. By Malay Mail Tuesday, 26 May 2026 2:56 PM MYT SINGAPORE, May 26 — Vivian Balakrishnan is making a rare visit to North Korea as Singapore steps up diplomatic engagement amid rising global tensions.Singapore’s foreign ministry said Vivian is visiting North Korea from Tuesday as part of a regional trip that also includes China and South Korea, business wire Bloomberg reported today.His last official trip to North Korea was ahead of the 2018 summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.Vivian will also make the first official visit by a Singapore foreign minister to South Korea in nearly 20 years.The trip comes as Singapore seeks to strengthen ties beyond traditional partners amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.Vivian began the tour in Beijing, where he and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for a ceasefire in the Middle East where the US and Israel have been making strikes against Iran and its neighbours.