AMERICAN and North Korean representatives began informal talks at the weekend in Singapore that are slated to cover Pyongyang’s nuclear programme, among other issues.

The meeting is expected to end today after which, The Straits Times understands, the US delegation may speak to the media.

The Singapore meeting comes shortly after Washington rejected Pyongyang’s offer to temporarily suspend its nuclear activities in exchange for the United States withdrawing an upcoming military exercise with South Korea in March.

…Associate research fellow Sarah Teo from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said Singapore “happens to be an agreeable venue to both parties, given that we have good relations with both sides”. Pyongyang also has a mission here.