Japan's foreign minister mulls visit to Singapore ahead of Trump-Kim summit


Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono reportedly plans to visit Singapore on June 9, a day after visiting Malaysia.
PHOTO: REUTERS

TOKYO - Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono is considering visiting Singapore in early June before the country is expected to host a US-North Korea summit, Kyodo News reported on Tuesday (May 29).

It quoted Japanese government sources as saying that preparations are being made for Mr Kono to meet Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, to seek cooperation in sharing information about the June 12 summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Mr Kono plans to go to Singapore on June 9, a day after visiting Malaysia, the sources said on Monday.

He will likely ask for support in resolving the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, they added.

Over the weekend, Mr Trump and Mr Kim respectively expressed their readiness to meet on June 12 as originally planned, after days of conflicting signals from both sides. On Thursday, the US president abruptly cancelled the summit, citing Pyongyang's "open hostility".

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