Relationship with North Korea

1. Although Singapore's political relationship with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are good, our economic relations are minimal. In recent years, the North Koreans have indicated interest in closer relations sending occasional delegations to Singapore. A few years ago, an official delegation visited me at MTI which included Kim Jong-Il's brother-in-law. Two years ago, the former Foreign Minister made a bilateral visit to Singapore as my guest. Last year, President Kim Young Nam made an official visit calling on President Nathan and SM Goh.

2. When Singapore negotiated an FTA with South Korea, we included Gaesong Industrial Park, an SEZ in North Korea across the DMZ. Later, this provision was incorporated into the ASEAN-South Korea FTA. When I visited Gaesong Industrial Park last year, it looked very promising. However, after President Lee Myung- Bak assumed office, he put conditions on Gaesong's further development which greatly annoyed the North.

3. Neither Singapore nor ASEAN is a player in the politics of the Korean Peninsula. While we support the Six-Party Talks and reunification, we have little influence. We are well-wishers and offer our hands of frienship to both the North and the South. Our economic relationship with the South is of course much more substantial. In February, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers agreed for me to invite North Korea to accede to the Treaty of Amith and Cooperation with ASEAN. It seems likely that the North will do so when its Foreign Minister visits Singapore in July for the ASEAN Regional Forum.

4. The key to North Korea's opening up is its relationship with the US. Recently, the two sides held successful talks in Singapore. But the road to the future is not an easy one. The North is not going to give up its nuclear card readily because it is the only card it has got. When I visited Panmunjom, I was briefed on the war and the armistice as seen by North Korea. Although the Korean war was more than half a century ago, the emotions are still deeply felt. It is a tragedy that the people of the North are still trapped in the past when others in Asia are taking rapid strides into the future. They deserve better.

George Yeo

With Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun

Meeting with President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly Kim Yong Nam

Meeting with Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam