ASEAN diplomats condemn DPRK’s missile tests as threat to stability

World Today

PHILIPPINES-ASEAN-DIPLOMACY(L-R) Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, Myanmar’s Minister of State of Foreign Affairs U Kyaw Tin, Thailand’s Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Philippines’ Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Brunei’s Foreign Minister Lim Jock Seng, Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Laos’ Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh applaud after joining hands for a family photo during the opening ceremony of the 50th Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum (ARF) meeting in Manila on August 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Mohd RASFAN

Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Manila had strong words for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

In a joint statement, diplomats from the ten member states said its missile tests threaten regional stability. And they called on Pyongyang to work with other members of the ASEAN Regional Forum, or ARF, to lessen tensions.

The ministers are marking the 50th anniversary of ASEAN. They’ll be joined by diplomats from 17 other Pacific Rim nations. Among them is the Republic of Korea’s new Foreign Minister. She said she is open to meeting her DPRK counterpart.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived on Saturday. He came as ASEAN ministers discussed a long-sought code of conduct in the disputed South China Sea.

The ministers endorsed the framework. They’re expected to adopt the framework during a meeting with Wang this weekend.