Let's start with the big ASEAN gathering in Singapore.<br />Seoul's top diplomat Kang Kyung-wha has revealed the results of meetings with her counterparts in the Southeast Asian country.<br />One meeting that never materialized however was an anticipated one-on-one between Kang and North Korea's foreign minister,... this despite the fact he was there as well.<br />Our Lee Jiwon files this report from Singapore. <br /> The six-day ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings finally came to an end on Saturday, and South Korea's foreign minister, Kang Kyung-wha,... briefed reporters on Sunday about the results of her final meetings in Singapore. <br /><br /> Seoul's top diplomat said some of the key takeaways from her meeting was the support among participating states for the nation's New Southern Policy and for change on the Korean Peninsula.<br /><br /> ASEAN member states promised to passionately engage in multi-dimensional cooperation with Seoul,... and together with key stakeholders in the North Korea issue, they reaffirmed the shared goal of complete denuclearization and permanent peace in the region.<br /> And though Kang did not elaborate on what she discussed Friday night with Pyongyang's foreign minister, Ri Yong-ho, when he rejected South Korea's request for bilateral talks,... she said the two did have sincere discussions during their brief encounter at the gala dinner.<br /><br /> "We exchanged brief but honest views about developments on the Peninsula and ways to cooperate. And I think it's helped lay the groundwork for the Panmunjom Declaration to be carried out."<br /><br />Meanwhile, though the much anticipated sitdown between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ri Yong-ho did not take place either,... the atmosphere did not seem hostile at all.<br /> The two diplomats, according to Washington Post, had a small chat during the meeting,... in which Pompeo said they should talk again soon,... and Ri replied that there are many productive conversations to be had.<br /><br /> "The U.S. delegates also delivered President Donald Trump's response to a letter he received recently from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, so there seems to be real optimism that the two sides will continue striving to work things out. <br />Lee Ji-won, Arirang News, Singapore."<br />
