N. Korea rejects U.N. sanctions resolution at ASEAN Regional Forum

PHUKET, Thailand, July 23 (Yonhap) -- Following is the part related to the
Korean Peninsula in the chairman's statement issued after the ASEAN Regional
Forum.

The Ministers of several countries condemned the recent nuclear test and missile
launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). They strongly urged
all member countries of the United Nations to commit themselves to fully implement
the provision of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874 (2009) according to
which these recent activities violated the relevant United Nations Security Council
Resolutions. They regarded these activities as adversely affecting peace and
stability in the region and beyond as well as the non-proliferation regime. They
expressed their strong conviction that peace and stability of each relevant State
can and should be safeguarded through political and diplomatic means. In this
connection, they supported the dialogue and cooperation among all the concerned
parties, including the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks to address the issue
of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and humanitarian concerns of the
international community. They also emphasized the importance of the full
implementation of the Joint Statement of 19 September 2005. They expected that all
concerned parties would exercise self-restraint and refrain from any moves that
could aggravate the situation in Northeast Asia.

The DPRK did not recognize the UNSC Resolution 1874 which has been adopted at the
instigation of the United States. The DPRK briefed the Meeting of the fact that the
ongoing aggravated situation on the Korean Peninsula is the product of the hostile
policy of the United States against her, and stated that the Six-Party Talks have
already come to an end, with the strong emphasis on the unique and specific security
environment on the Korean Peninsula which lies in its continued division and
presence of U.S. military troops for over half a century to date in South Korea,
since this factor is vital to consider and address the question of the Korean
Peninsula.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)