FRAMING A STRONG AND SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIP
The challenge lies in the framing of bilateral relations – which then shapes perceptions.
Historically, South Korea’s focus has been on the Korean Peninsula. While entirely understandable, this has led to perceptions that its approach towards ASEAN and its member states is driven to a large extent by its pre-occupation with North Korea.
Recent administrations in Seoul, however, have started to reshape the narrative. South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy document, for example, stresses the serious threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities to regional and global stability.
Singapore is cognisant of the implications arising from instability on the Korean Peninsula. In 2018, it played host to the leaders of North Korea and the United States as they met in a historic summit.
Explaining Singapore’s support for the summit, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan emphasised the collective interest for a peaceful, stable and denuclearised Korean Peninsula given that “anything that happens on the Peninsula will affect the rest of the region, including Singapore”.
