Edited Transcript of Minister Vivian Balakrishnan's Media Doorstop with Singapore Media on 9 June 2018 in Beijing

CNA: My first question is, from your whirlwind, your meetings, what new perspectives have you gained that could perhaps shape the talks in Singapore? Only when you’re ready, then we can. Anytime.

Minister: I’ve just completed in the last five days a round-the-world trip. I went to Washington first, and then to Pyongyang via Beijing, now back to Beijing again. In Washington I met Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Advisor John Bolton, and in Pyongyang, I met my counterpart Ri Yong-ho, as well as the President of the Presidium Mr Kim Yong-nam. On specifics of the preparations, I went there to make sure everything is spick and span and in place, no last-minute spoilers or difficulties. Both sides expressed their appreciation to Singapore for our efforts, and especially for getting things ready in actually quite a short time, and the meticulous attention to detail that was needed. I’m glad to say as of now it’s all systems go. Both the Americans and the North Koreans are pleased with the arrangements, we’re all set to go. So that is good, as it must be. 

I know that there will be inconvenience to Singaporeans. But I also know from the feedback which I have received, as well as feedback that other Ministers have received, that Singaporeans are proud. We are proud that we were approached, we are proud that we are trusted, and that we’ve been able to get and put everything together in such an efficient and in such a really short space of time. As the delegations arrive and the thousands of journalists come to Singapore, I’m sure Singaporeans will put on our usual display of courtesy, efficiency, no nonsense, no fuss, but sincerity, friendship, and we’ll put forward our best face to the world. So this is also an opportunity when there’s enormous global attention on Singapore as the host site, and on Singaporeans and our capabilities, for us to make a difference. As some have said, you know, it’s an incredible branding opportunity as well. But I think going beyond marketing and branding, the most important point is for Singaporeans to just be natural, and to show ourselves to the world, which is that we are trusted, we are reliable, we are efficient, we are friendly, we are sincere as we get things done. And these are attributes that we can be proud of, and these are real attributes of Singapore and Singaporeans. So, let’s get ready, and then proceed with the Summit itself.

For the Summit itself, obviously you know that this has been an intractable problem for nearly seven decades. Apart from the damage that it has done within the Korean Peninsula all these decades, the risk that it poses to the rest of the world is considerable. So if a breakthrough is achieved, if peace comes, there will be a bountiful harvest. Primarily, of course, within the Korean Peninsula, but indeed, for all of the rest of us, including Singapore as well. So we hope for the best, but again our role is to provide a conducive environment, a safe venue, so that the two sides can focus on the issues at hand and hopefully, with all the goodwill that the rest of the world is focussing on them, we hope, that they will have good news to announce to us after the Summit. 

I want to also touch on my reflections having just come back from the DPRK, North Korea. To be frank with you, I come back very impressed. Frankly, my views have also altered based on what I saw, heard, spoke to people in the opportunities I had to participate in. If you go to Pyongyang today, what you will see is a clean, green, modern, beautiful city. There’s clear evidence of ongoing construction. I saw construction cranes. I saw buildings being constructed. I saw both commercial as well as residential units – modern designs that are well-done – clearly the government has been hard at work all these decades to upgrade their infrastructure. 

But beyond the hardware that I saw, I also got to experience a rugged, disciplined, determined, self-reliant society. They know that they have had enormous challenges for well-nigh a century in Korea. But they are proud of themselves, their identity, and I can see that there is that determination to move on to get ahead and to progress. So their society itself is a very impressive society as well as a very impressive city in its own right. 

They even took me to an eye hospital. I suppose they knew my background. And I can tell you based on my observations as someone in the know, they have everything there. The latest equipment, all the brand names, in fact the same equipment which you will find in Singapore. I didn’t have enough time to chat with the doctors or to observe their post-operative results but the point I am making is that despite these maximal sanctions, what you have is a society that has continued to invest in itself, continued to try to upgrade its people and their skills, and the services that they provide to their citizens. Now, can you imagine if peace finally comes, and North Korea is allowed to open up to the world and gain access to technology and capabilities and skills and markets? I think the sky’s the limit for their people. So it made me understand them better. It makes me hope for their sake that there would be a breakthrough in Singapore in the next few days. There will be many people within North Korea as well as in the rest of the world who will benefit from this very significant step.

CNA: Minister, if you would allow me to ask a very quick follow-up question.  I think you’ve given a very interesting point that your views were altered, you were impressed.  Can I ask do you think if North Korea was wrongly portrayed for the kind of, perhaps… ?

Minister: Well, I don’t want to make pejorative judgments.  I would say that history has been very tough on this country for over a century.  For a variety of reasons, they have been isolated.  Most people have not had a chance to interact, to visit, to get a feel. I think it’s lack of access.  As I said, the few days that I’ve spent with them, I’ve had very open, candid discussions with my counterpart, the foreign minister.  These are discussions which you can’t have in a large forum or attending a formal meeting. You need informal time, catching up over a meal, let your guard down and show people your heart.  I would say I’m impressed.  I hope for their sake that a breakthrough will occur and I think the people in North Korea deserve this chance.

LHZB: Minister, if I can ask you a follow-up? Can you tell us about what sort of discussions you had with the North Koreans?  If you could share what were some of the expectations for the coming Summit?

Minister: I can’t share all the details because some of this is sensitive. Nevertheless, I think the point which I do want to emphasise is they also hope that there will be a breakthrough, that there will be peace and they will gain access to the rest of the world. Since they have already been able to do actually, in my opinion, a sterling job, despite all the constraints that they currently operate in, I think they also know that this is a magnificent opportunity for them.  We are not privy to the details of the negotiations – clearly, they shared some of their sentiments and attitude to this which I don’t want to go into at this point.  But I would say with goodwill and with courage on both sides, let’s wish them all the very best.

CNA: Minister, you spent the last week doing what you described is a ‘whirlwind tour’ and surely, and I say this respectfully, surely there must be a bigger role that Singapore is playing apart from perhaps serving coffee and tea.

Minister: Actually, if you knew how much work my staff in the Ministry have, they’ve all had sleepless nights, answering messages from all over the world, addressing very specific requests, it goes far beyond serving coffee and tea. Similarly, if you understood the preparations by our Home Team, backed up by the SAF, the security measures which are being put in place, you would know that this is in fact a major operation - one of our most significant security operations in the time that I’ve been involved. Similarly, if you understood, literally thousands of journalists. We’ve had official registration, but I suspect many are also coming in, probably under tourist visas. That tsunami of eyes and ears embedded in Singapore, listening, observing; it’s an incredible opportunity also for us. So, it’s actually a very complex operation. And it has taken a lot of man hours, resources, and more important, effort on the part of so many of our Singaporean agencies and our teams. And at this point, although the Summit is not over but the work has already been done, I want to express my deepest appreciation to everyone who has worked so hard to make this happen.

But again when I look around at the faces and the tireless energy of my colleagues, I realize it is because they are proud of Singapore. And this is our contribution to world peace. This is also our opportunity to show an aspect of Singapore which we sometimes take for granted. Our security, our efficiency, our ability, our unity of purpose, our ability to get things done, to plan in detail, and also to react to contingencies, to react to changes in plan. This is Singapore at our best.

CNA: Min, I know Singapore has always been a neutral party, a neutral host at the world talks. But given that the nature of your visit, meeting key parties, did Singapore make full use of its opportunity to perhaps, advocate for peace or… 

Minister: I don’t think there’s a need for us to loudly proclaim advocacy for peace. First, we’ve been neutral. The North Koreans have had an embassy in Singapore since the 1970s. In fact, North Korea recognized Singapore’s independence in 1967. And although we comply fully with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions, nevertheless, they have noticed that we have always been scrupulously fair, we have kept lines open, and that we are a trustworthy, reliable partner. So that counts for a lot with them. 

With the Americans you know we have a very wide-ranging deep account. Again, decades of trust and reliability built in. So it gave us a unique and special value proposition to both of them. We did not put up our hand and volunteer for this. Both sides asked us, and we said, this is a worthy cause for peace, we will do our small part in our way to make this possible. And here is where we are at right now.

CNA: Minister, like I said, it is a worthy cause. Do you think Singapore is going to be committing itself to perhaps, other future talks… 

Minister: As I said, we didn't put up our hand. But if you look back at our record, with this, the 2015 Xi-Ma meeting, and in fact if you go back to the 1990s,  in 1993 with the Wang-Koo talks, it speaks to decades of Singapore’s track record of keeping lines of communication open, for being trustworthy, for being discreet.

And I hope it also will serve as a reminder. Sometimes when people ask us, ‘Why are we so principled? Why are we so consistent? Why do we sometimes refuse to bend with the seasonal wind?’ And this is precisely the point, because people know we won’t be bought, we won’t be intimidated. We will maintain a steady course, a principled course. We don’t play games and we don’t engage in polemics. This decades-long record of conducting diplomacy and foreign policy matters, I see it as an affirmation of the last fifty-three years of Singapore’s pursuit of an independent, principled, fair and honest diplomacy.

LHZB: Minister, just now you talk about how sizeable, and how complex this operation is, for the logistics. One big part of this is, getting to Singapore?

Minister: Getting to Singapore?

LHZB: Yes, can you give us any hints on how would Mr Kim be possibly flying to Singapore? 

Minister: No.

LHZB: Could it be by a Singapore pilot? Or – 

Minister: No, you know I cannot reveal details, nor can I give you details of exactly when he is arriving.  

LHZB: Ok, what about the total estimated cost?

Minister: I don’t have that now, but there will certainly be cost. Major cost, because this is a major security operation. For the journalists, they will have to pay their way in, and we will manage them. For the North Koreans, obviously we are extending hospitality, the way we would for any state visit or any major delegation that’s arriving. They have to pay some of their own cost as well. The opportunities and the significance of this occasion are too important. I am not going to get into the details right now about the finance. But I give you this assurance, we will make sure that every dollar is spent appropriately. And ultimately, this is our contribution to world peace, our contribution and our investment in our bilateral relations to both the United States and DPRK. This represents an opportunity for our businesses, our hotels as well as future economic opportunities that we will have with the peace dividend. So as I’ve said, this is actually an enormous affirmation of Singapore’s value proposition to the world.

CNA: Minister, you talk about the importance of peace. I wonder, if there is peace after this summit, how would it affect Singapore and North Korea’s bilateral relations?

Minister: Well, if a meaningful breakthrough occurs and then depending on what happens with the UN Security Council Resolutions, which we have to abide with.  Maybe it is worth me emphasising this point. Singapore has religiously abided by the UN Security Council Resolutions because we believe in international law. I’ve explained with my counterparts in North Korea that because we are a small nation, we cannot accept that might is right. The only defence and the only foundation which we can build on is international law. And we view the resolutions of the UN Security Council as an important body of international law, so we will comply with it fully. 

Now, if there is a breakthrough, if peace is achieved and we can look forward to a winding down of these resolutions, then clearly opportunities will arise. You will have noticed also I said earlier how much I admired how much the North Koreans have been able to do on their own. They are a hardworking, determined people. I think our years of principled, honest relationship with them, our opportunity to be a trusted friend for them, would clearly have benefits for our businessmen and our enterprises and small and medium enterprises in future if they wanted to pursue opportunities in the Korean Peninsula as well. But like I said, those are incidentals. Let's focus currently on the important thing which is for Singapore to be a safe, conducive venue and let the leaders of the two sides meet, hopefully, achieve a breakthrough and then we can all celebrate. 

ST: Minister, can I ask about the North Korean delegation in Singapore. Are there any plans to engage them and if so what topics will you raise? 

Minister: Well actually we have already been engaging them.  We have met them both formally and informally and now with my recent visit. For now, the main focus in the next two, three days is this Summit. Let's not get distracted. The main point here is that anyway the relationships have been strengthened. The lines of communication and trust have been opened. Let's not rush and get distracted. 

ST: Having met both sides, if you could give a reading of what you think would happen in the Summit? 

Minister: I would not want to speculate but I have met both sides. I see sincerity on both sides. I see a desire, a willingness to escape the constraints that have applied for almost seven decades. So with goodwill and creativity, let's see what they come up with. But again I want to emphasise here. This is, at this point, strictly between United States of America and North Korea. But what both sides have also told me is that, if and when they arrive at an agreement, it will by necessity have to involve the other key stakeholders as well. So that will be in the next stage. I really don't want to get into details on that.

ST: So would Singapore be playing a role further down the road? 

Minister: No let's not run ahead about such. 

ST: Sure.

ST: You were supposed to come back yesterday, but for some reason you came back this morning. Was it just because the flight was cancelled, or there were additional plans, or…

Minister: No. I think there was some scheduling difficulties but anyway it turned out to be even better because then I had more time. We spent the additional time that day at the museums, the art galleries, riding the subway, visiting a hospital. I think it just gave us a better sense of the place. So, this trip has been time well worth invested.

LHZB: Minister, you talked about how the North Koreans – you find them very hardworking and disciplined and all that. What about the mood of the people during your time there? What did you sense? Were they looking forward to this summit or-

Minister: Well, no I don’t think I can give you a read on that. But certainly, as I said, from the point of view of the officials I met, that we spent a lot of time with – they are hoping, but at the same time they are realists and they know the enormity of the challenge. But like I said, right now I wish them all the best and I give them full credit for what they have achieved, to a large extent on their own steam. And these are attributes worth respecting. So, I think it has just strengthened our bilateral relations as well, which in any case were good even before this opportunity arose. 

LHZB: Thank you so much for your time, Minister.         

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