ASEAN Foreign Ministers Express Grave Concern Over Escalating Tension In Korean Peninsula

By Saraswathi Muniappan MANILA, April 28 (Bernama) -- The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expresses its grave concern over the escalating tension in the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea’s two nuclear tests in 2016 and subsequent ballistic missile launches, ASEAN Foreign Ministers said in a statement Friday. “ASEAN is mindful that instability in the Korean Peninsula seriously impacts the region and beyond,” it said in the Philippines capital where officials and head of governments have gathered for the 30th ASEAN Summit. ASEAN strongly urged North Korea to comply fully with its obligations arising from all relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions and international laws in the interest of maintaining international peace and security. ASEAN also urged the North Korea and all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint in order to de-escalate the tension and refrain from actions that may aggravate the situation. “ASEAN supports the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and in this regard, calls for the resumption of dialogue on the Korean Peninsula to defuse tensions and create conditions conducive to peace and stability,” it added. -- BERNAMA