SEOUL • South Korean President Moon Jae-in will make a state visit to Singapore from July 11 to 13, the presidential Blue House announced yesterday, in what will be the first of its kind since Mr Moon took office in May last year.

Mr Moon will meet President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to assess bilateral relations and discuss further cooperation, according to presidential office spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom.

"Through his meeting with the President of Singapore and talks with the Prime Minister, President Moon will evaluate the result of cooperation between the two countries so far and discuss ways to enable future-oriented cooperation between the two countries based on such progress," the spokesman said.

PM Lee last met Mr Moon at a meeting on the sidelines of the 31st Asean Summit held in Manila last November.

Mr Moon is also scheduled to give a speech to opinion leaders in Singapore on his vision and policies for permanent peace on the Korean peninsula as well as cooperation with Asian countries in the region.

"The President plans to explain the country's vision and policy for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and the establishment of permanent peace, as well as its New Southern Policy that seeks to upgrade the country's cooperation with the Association of South-east Asian Nations," the spokesman added.

Mr Moon's trip to Singapore follows his two historic summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, held on April 27 and May 26, as well as the meeting between Mr Kim and United States President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12.

The trip will follow a state visit to India from July 8 to 11, where he is slated to hold a summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Discussions are expected to focus on strengthening strategic partnership and expanding economic cooperation.

Mr Moon will also meet Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on his first visit to the country, according to a Blue House statement.

THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK, REUTERS