Cayetano conveys to DPRK counterpart ASEAN stance over missile tests

August 7, 2017

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, acting as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, conveyed on Monday to Foreign Minister Ri Yong-Ho of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea the regional bloc's position against Pyongyang's ballistic missile tests.

Cayetano presented the ASEAN statement reiterating their grave concerns in the Korean Peninsula during his bilateral meeting with Ri at the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings.

"The statement was not borne out of lost friendship but is because of frustration that there seems to be no opening for discussions or dialogue to address the impasse on the issues in the Korean Peninsula," the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said quoting Cayetano as telling Ri.

"I have been tasked by my ASEAN colleagues to convey this to you personally and likewise affirm ASEAN's commitment to engaging your country within the ASEAN Regional Forum, given the importance of this platform for our continued discussions," Cayetano said.

Last Saturday, the ASEAN foreign ministers released a statement expressing grave concerns over the developments, which threaten peace, security and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the world.

Recent developments include the July 4 and 28, 2017 testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles and previous ballistic missile launches and two nuclear tests in 2016.

The ASEAN foreign ministers "strongly" urged DPRK to immediately comply fully with its obligations under all relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

"However, there is a sentiment across ASEAN that for this engagement to be truly productive and beneficial not just to ASEAN but to our region and the world, we need to ensure that there is a mutual openness and communication amongst us," Cayetano told Ri.

"We say this in the spirit of our common goal of maintaining peace and security for our peoples," he added.

According to the DFA, Ri thanked Cayetano for conveying the sentiments of his fellow ASEAN ministers.

It said the DPRK official understood the ASEAN position and assured that the message would reach North Korea. Celerina Monte/DMS