U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the recent South-North naval clash will not affect U.S. plans to send special representative for North Korea Stephen Bosworth to Pyongyang.

After attending a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Singapore, Clinton told reporters Wednesday that Bosworth will visit Pyongyang in the near future.

She said the U.S. is hoping that the situation in the region does not escalate following the inter-Korean naval skirmish on Tuesday, adding that she is encouraged by the calm reaction that has been present up until now.

Clinton said that the decision to send Bosworth to the North is an important step and that his trip is connected to efforts of both the U.S. and other members of six-way talks to move toward a resumption of the six-party process, which she described as “critically important.”