SINGAPORE, May 26 -- Vivian Balakrishnan is making a rare visit to North Korea as Singapore steps up diplomatic engagement amid rising global tensions.

Singapore's foreign ministry said Vivian is visiting North Korea from Tuesday as part of a regional trip that also includes China and South Korea, business wire Bloomberg reported today.

His last official trip to North Korea was ahead of the 2018 summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.

Vivian will also make the first official visit by a Singapore foreign minister to South Korea in nearly 20 years.

The trip comes as Singapore seeks to strengthen ties beyond traditional partners amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.

Vivian began the tour in Beijing, where he and Chinese Foreign Mi...