PLAYING host to one of the 21st century’s most highly watched diplomatic meetings comes with a hefty price tag, as Singapore has discovered.

The host nation of yesterday’s DPRK-U.S. summit has shelled out S$20 million, or about US$15 million, on the historic event, according to Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Lee told reporters Sunday that half the amount had gone toward enhancing security for the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un. Several million dollars also had been spent to support the contingent of about 2,500 foreign media traveling to the small but wealthy city-state to cover the event.

“It cost some money and resources to put up. It’s a lot of effort for our security [and] communications people,” Lee said, according to Today newspaper. “[But] it is a cost that we are willing to pay and it’s our contribution to an international endeavor that is in our profound interest.”

Lee said he hoped the summit would lead to greater “security and stability” in the region.

Lee suggested that Singapore also could benefit from the meeting thanks to the “publicity” generated about the Southeast Asian island.

(SD-Agencies)