ID :
12555
Tue, 07/15/2008 - 16:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/12555
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N. Korea to sign ASEAN's non-aggression treaty on July 24+
SINGAPORE, July 14 Kyodo - North Korea will sign the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' non-aggression treaty on July 24 on the sidelines of an annual gathering offoreign ministers from ASEAN and other countries in the region.
North Korea ''has informed Singapore, as chairman of ASEAN, that it will accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia,'' Singapore's ForeignMinistry said in a statement.
It said that North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun will sign the treaty in an accession ceremony on July 24, the last day of a series of ASEAN foreign ministerial meetings and related meetings that will be held in Singapore fromJuly 20.
Welcoming North Korea's decision to accede to the treaty, the ministry said ASEAN believes that Pyongyang's accession to the treaty ''will strengthen relations'' between ASEAN and North Korea and ''also help promote peace, security and cooperation in the region.'' North Korea's decision to accede to the treaty showed that Singapore has managed to allay its concerns over certain aspects of the treaty, which itfears might impinge on its sovereignty in security issues.
Last month the North Korean foreign minister wrote a letter to Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo, the grouping's current chairman, to conveyPyongyang's decision to sign the treaty, ASEAN sources and diplomats said.
The treaty promotes cooperation and peaceful settlement of disputes in the region.
Besides the 10 ASEAN members, 14 countries outside ASEAN have already signedthe treaty.
ASEAN has made accession to the treaty one of the criteria for membership in the East Asia Summit, whose members include the ASEAN states plus Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India. The European Union is alsoplanning to sign the treaty.
In a bid to engage the reclusive state, Yeo had urged North Korea to sign the treaty when he visited the country in May this year. After returning from his trip, Yeo disclosed that North Korea was considering signing the treaty in July. North Korea has moved closer toward ASEAN since 2000, when it joined the27-member ASEAN Regional Forum.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, thePhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
North Korea ''has informed Singapore, as chairman of ASEAN, that it will accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia,'' Singapore's ForeignMinistry said in a statement.
It said that North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun will sign the treaty in an accession ceremony on July 24, the last day of a series of ASEAN foreign ministerial meetings and related meetings that will be held in Singapore fromJuly 20.
Welcoming North Korea's decision to accede to the treaty, the ministry said ASEAN believes that Pyongyang's accession to the treaty ''will strengthen relations'' between ASEAN and North Korea and ''also help promote peace, security and cooperation in the region.'' North Korea's decision to accede to the treaty showed that Singapore has managed to allay its concerns over certain aspects of the treaty, which itfears might impinge on its sovereignty in security issues.
Last month the North Korean foreign minister wrote a letter to Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo, the grouping's current chairman, to conveyPyongyang's decision to sign the treaty, ASEAN sources and diplomats said.
The treaty promotes cooperation and peaceful settlement of disputes in the region.
Besides the 10 ASEAN members, 14 countries outside ASEAN have already signedthe treaty.
ASEAN has made accession to the treaty one of the criteria for membership in the East Asia Summit, whose members include the ASEAN states plus Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India. The European Union is alsoplanning to sign the treaty.
In a bid to engage the reclusive state, Yeo had urged North Korea to sign the treaty when he visited the country in May this year. After returning from his trip, Yeo disclosed that North Korea was considering signing the treaty in July. North Korea has moved closer toward ASEAN since 2000, when it joined the27-member ASEAN Regional Forum.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, thePhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
