ASEAN, S. Korea tried to invite Kim Jong-un in summit, but no favorable reply – Korean envoy

November 24, 2019

Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) and the Republic of South Korea have tried to invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit, an official said on Sunday.

In a press briefing in Busan, South Korea, Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong Man said it was Indonesian President Jokowi who initiated the idea to invite Kim.

“We hope to have Kim Jong-un, North Korean leader to Busan, because his attendance will show his sincere interest for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,” Han said.

“When it comes to visit of North Korean leader to Busan, unfortunately, we did not get any favorable response from the North that he couldn’t attend. But among ASEAN leaders and the Korean President, we’ll discuss further how we can enhance our security environment on the Korean Peninsula,” he said.

Han said ASEAN leaders played a role in easing the tension in Korean Peninsula through the ASEAN Regional Forum Meetings in many occasions.

“In particular, all the ASEAN member countries established diplomatic relationship with North Korea in the sense that it’s quite meaningful to play a certain role for ASEAN. And we have witnessed two meetings between the North Korea and the United States in the ASEAN countries such as Singapore and Vietnam,” he said.

The Korean ambassador said even with the absence of the North Korean leader, the ASEAN and South Korean leaders can still discuss more issues.

“Because in the forthcoming ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit, there are many agendas to be discussed among the leaders, that’s why only security issue concerning North Korean were--Korean issues would be one part of security to our political issues, that’s why I think the ASEAN leaders will discuss more on traditional and the non-traditional security issues, as well as the proposal of Korean—South Korean President," he said.

"As I mentioned three principles: Zero tolerance for war and mutual security guarantees for both party, as well as transformation of DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) into international peace channels,” Han said.

Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Noe Wong said he did not want to preempt President Rodrigo Duterte if he would highlight the importance of denuclearization in the summit.

“Well, I am not in the position to say that. That’s a policy decision by our President,” Wong said.

“I cannot preempt whatever the President will say,” he said.

Wong, however, said that as part of the United Nations, the Philippines is for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

“Korea and the Philippines are closely also working with the international organizations like the United Nation, the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum and other multilateral organization which again some --- more often will discuss about the peace and order situation in the Korean Peninsula,” he said.

“So as part of this United Nation also, we are for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. And whatever inter-Korean peace thing that is going on, we support that,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS