It's not every day you hear something from North Korea addressed to Singapore, so if and when we do, we know it's something of significance.

Apparently, it has been reported that the hermit nation has sent us a message congratulating Halimah Yacob's (s)election to Singapore's Presidential office.

North Korean news aggregating site KCNA Watch reported that Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), sent a message to congratulate Halimah, and also expressed "expectation that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger on the principle of respect for sovereignty and mutual benefits."

Just for some context, Kim ranks pretty high up in the North Korean political food chain. He leads a powerful subsection of North Korea's equivalent to Singapore's parliament, which exercises the following powers:

• Convene sessions of the Supreme People's Assembly
• Examine and approve new state legislation when the SPA is in recess
• Interpret and enact the Constitution and legislation
• Form or dissolve state ministries
• Supervise laws of State organs
• Organise elections to the Supreme People's Assembly
• Ratify treaties with foreign countries
• Appoint, transfer, or remove officials and judges when the SPA is not in session
• Grant special pardons or amnesties

The 89-year-old has held this position since 1998, and served as North Korea's foreign affairs minister between 1983 and 1988. He is also referred to as the "nominal head of state" in the DPRK — and effectively performs similar duties to most heads of state, so he can be seen as the North Korean equivalent to President Halimah.

Here's the KCNA Watch report in full:

"Pyongyang, September 14 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, sent a congratulatory message to Halimah Yacob upon her assumption of the office as president of Singapore on September 14.

Expressing expectation that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger on the principle of respect for sovereignty and mutual benefits, the message sincerely wished the Singaporean president success in her work for the prosperity of the country. -0-"

We're not entirely surprised given Singapore's relationship with North Korea — we have an embassy here in Singapore, for example.

We've reached out to our Ministry of Foreign Affairs to confirm this report.

Top image via Flagpedia.net and Facebook live feed from Halimah Yacob’s swearing in ceremony

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