Let's start with the ASEAN Regional Forum in Singapore....
In a statement, ASEAN foreign ministers called on North Korea to follow through on its promise made with the U.S. at the June 12th Singapore summit.
Our Park Hee-jun starts us off. Members of the ASEAN Regional Forum have jointly called for North Korea's complete denuclearization.
The Chairman's Statement released early Monday,... demands that the North fulfills its commitment to complete denuclearization as promised,... and suspends all nuclear and missile tests.
The statement also welcomes the two inter-Korean summits and the North Korea-U.S. summit held this year, along with their outcomes.
It urges all relevant parties to cooperate in fully implementing the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration and the June 12 Sentosa Agreement,... to realise lasting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
The Ministers reiterated the need for the full enforcement of the UN Security Council Resolutions.
And some foreign ministers said they are prepared for dialogue with the North,... to discuss other unresolved issues, including humanitarian concerns.
The statement, however, does not make any mention of CVID-- complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization, which is seen to have reflected North Korea's disapproval of the term.
And the rhetoric is much softer compared to last year's statement,... which expressed "grave concerns" toward Pyongyang's provocative and threatening actions that threaten the region.
The Chairman's Statement of the 25th ASEAN summit is likely to have reflected the recent positive developments surrounding the Korean Peninsula,... and the stark contrast in the situation compared to last year.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.
