Prime Minister Hun Sen applauded the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday, offering his congratulations to the odd couple at the fourth annual River Festival in Kandal province.

“This is an important issue that reduces regional and international concern, from tension to relief,” Hun Sen said. “If this thing happens, the dialogue between the US president and Kim Jong-un will be a political message that attracts the attention of the world.”

“I am really happy with this issue and I hope that in the Asean-Australia meeting in the next few days, this will be congratulated by Asean and Australia as well,” he added.

Trump made the snap decision to meet the North Korean leader on Friday after a South Korean delegation brought the invitation to the White House. The unprecedented meeting is supposed to take place by the end of May.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhonn also expressed his support for the expected meeting during a visit with newly-appointed South Korean Ambassador Oh Nak-Young on Friday, according to local media reports. Foreign Affairs spokesman Chum Sounry could not be reached yesterday.

Cambodia and North Korea share historic ties dating back to the era of then-Prince Norodom Sihanouk, who was friendly with Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-un’s grandfather and the founder of the North Korean state. The hermetic country still maintains an embassy in Cambodia near Hun Sen’s house.

A representative at the embassy who answered the phone yesterday declined to talk because it was Sunday.

Additional reporting by Daphne Chen