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The ongoing escalation of tensions in the Korean Peninsula is “seriously” threatening peace, security and stability in the region and the world,” the Asean Foreign Ministers said on Saturday.
READ: Southeast Asian diplomats open talks in Manila
The top diplomats who met at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), issued in a statement their “grave concerns” over the heightening tensions in the Korean Peninsula, citing the recent testing by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and previous ballistic missile launches and two nuclear tests in 2016.
The foreign ministers “strongly” urged the DPRK to immediately comply fully with its obligations under all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
They also “strongly” called on the DPRK, as a participant of the Asean Regional Forum (ARF), to positively contribute to realize the ARF vision to maintain the Asia-Pacific as a region of lasting peace.
The ARF, an annual security conference, will be held in Manila on Monday.
Asean foreign ministers link hands “The Asean Way” at the opening ceremony of the 50th Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017 in Metro Manila. They are (from left) Malaysia’s Anifah Aman, Myanmar’s U Kyaw Tin, Thailand’s Don Pramudwinai, Vietnam’s Pham Binh Minh, Philippines’ Alan Peter Cayetano, Singapore’s Vivian Balakrishnan, Brunei’s Lim Jock Seng, Cambodia’s Prak Sokhonn, Indonesia’s Retno Marsudi, Laos’ Saleumxay Kommasith and ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh. (AP Photo/Mohd Rasfan, Pool)
“We reiterate our support for the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner, call for the exercise of self-restraint, and underscore the importance of creating conditions conducive for dialogue to de-escalate tensions,” the foreign ministers said.
They also expressed support initiatives to improve inter-Korean relations toward establishing permanent peace in the Korean Peninsula.
“ASEAN stands ready to play a constructive role in contributing to peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula,” they said. JPV