IISS Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore

(Singapore) – Asia’s key defense forum opened in Singapore, with North Korea’s nuclear issue high on the agenda, at a time when regional security faces a potential turning point.

The annual Shangri-La Dialogue comes amid cautious optimism about a historic breakthrough in efforts to denuclearize North Korea and formally end the 1950-53 Korean War with a peace treaty. As in previous years, the communist nation did not participate in the three-day dialogue.

A summit between the North’s leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump is apparently in the offing.

A team of North Korean officials is on a visit to Singapore for preparatory consultations with aides to Trump who openly expressed hope that the agreed-upon June 12 summit will go ahead in the city state.

The two sides are reportedly in talks over logistical details including a specific summit venue and schedule.