Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 7) — The denuclearization of North Korea is expected to be a hot topic at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum (ARF) on Monday.
Among those expected at the ARF are North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kano.
The forum comes a day after Japan called on ASEAN to place more pressure on North Korea, also known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), to denuclearize and cease missile testing.
“Now is not the time for dialogue but to increase effective pressure on North Korea so that they will take concrete actions towards denuclearization,” said Japanese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Toshihide Ando in a press conference on Sunday.
Related: Pressure North Korea to denuclearize – Japan to ASEAN
Last July, North Korea launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles as part of its continuing nuclear program. One of the missiles fell into the Sea of Japan. The missile tests highlight North Korea’s progress in pursuing its ambitions to become a nuclear power.
Tillerson has asked ASEAN to consider downgrading its relations with the rogue state, or even isolate it from the ARF.
ASEAN ministers have called on North Korea to observe United Nations Security Council resolutions such as putting an end to its nuclear tests and missile launches.
“ASEAN wants the North Koreans to know that ASEAN remains concerned about what it’s doing, but also we want to engage North Korea in a face-to-face candid dialogue on what is happening in the Korean Peninsula,”
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar said Saturday.
“We hope that this dialogue will de-escalate the tensions,” he added.
The ARF also comes two days after a unanimous United Nations’ Security Council decision on August 5 to impose new sanctions in North Korea. North Korean ally China also agreed to the sanctions, which target North Korean exports such as coal, iron, lead, and seafood among others.
Related: UN Security Council imposes new sanctions on North Korea
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also backed talks with North Korea.
“What really matters is that the Foreign Minister of the DPRK is here, so he has the chance listen to the views of various parties regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula,” Wang said.
“Such exchange is useful, not only for other parties but also for the DPRK. It will help the dprk to make the right and smart decision.”
The ASEAN Regional Forum first convened in 1994 as a venue for bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region.
Apart from the 10 member states, the other countries expected to attend are Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, North Korea, European Union, India, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Russia, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, and the United States.
The ARF is the only global body aside from the United Nations that North Korea participates in.
Also gathering on Monday are the foreign ministers of ASEAN Plus Three and the East Asia Summit. The former includes China, Japan, and South Korea, while the latter includes eight other nations.
The ministers of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, comprised of Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, are also set to meet Monday.
CNN Philippines correspondent Claire Jiao and digital producer Chad de Guzman contributed to this report.
