The US State Department mistakenly made Singapore part of neighbouring Malaysia in a note issued in connection with Tuesday’s North Korea-U.S. summit and published on its website, sparking snide comments on social media.
US President Donald Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday for the first ever summit between leaders of the old foes, at a hotel in the city state of Singapore.
The mistake came in a transcript of a briefing U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gave on Monday. It gave the venue as “JW Marriott, Singapore, Malaysia”. The error was rectified later to remove the reference to Malaysia.
“Well, US State Department still thinks Singapore is in Malaysia,” said Twitter user @BrioS_BRxV.
“Just 53 years and a bad break-up off.”
The island of Singapore was once part of Malaysia but they separated acrimoniously in 1965, clouding diplomatic and economic dealings for years.
“Trump planning to facilitate a Malaysia-Singapore reunification summit anytime soon?” asked another Twitter user, @boblskee.
Malaysia’s the Star newspaper reported the error in post on its Facebook page with the title “How to offend Singaporeans and Malaysians at the same time”.
{{/usCountry}}Malaysia’s the Star newspaper reported the error in post on its Facebook page with the title “How to offend Singaporeans and Malaysians at the same time”.
{{/usCountry}}The post was shared nearly 700 times and drew almost 300 comments.
“US must go back to School,” said Facebook user Jimi Leong.