SINGAPORE - United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has thanked Singapore for agreeing to host the unprecedented US-North Korea summit, planned to take place next month, in a telephone call with Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Dr Balakrishnan on Wednesday (May 16) called Mr Pompeo, who was sworn in on April 26, to congratulate the former Central Intelligence Agency director on his new role.

Dr Balakrishnan expressed hope that the meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could contribute towards lasting peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a statement on Wednesday.

Washington is seeking the denuclearisation of North Korea, but Pyongyang on Wednesday threw the summit into doubt after threatening to cancel it.

Reaffirming the longstanding ties between their two countries, Mr Pompeo yesterday also welcomed Mr Balakrishnan's upcoming visit to Washington next month, said the MFA.