Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 7) — Japan urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take a stronger stand against North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons.
“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 Sunday.
This is after the ASEAN foreign ministers released a statement Saturday echoing their “grave concern” since April over the hermit state’s continued nuclear activities.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson previously called on ASEAN members to exclude North Korea from the ASEAN Regional Forum set on Monday .
But Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar said Saturday the ASEAN ministers seek a “conducive platform” for a dialogue between the concerned countries.
Ando added Japan is willing to adopt the new resolution from the United Nation’s Security Council (UNSC), which imposed strongest sanctions on the isolationist state for its missile tests.
He said he is expecting the resolution’s full implementation from ASEAN member countries.
Last July 28, North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the Sea of Japan. This is the second ICBM they have fired in a month.
Ando said that ASEAN countries are completely within reach of these ICBMs, making the threat imminent.
Pyongyang has carried out 14 missile tests since February this year.
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho arrived in Manila for the ASEAN Regional Forum Sunday afternoon. The country was last present for the Forum in 2016, when it was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
THE ASEAN Regional Forum is held to discuss political and security issues concerning the Asia-Pacific region.
CNN Philippines’ Chad de Guzman, Claire Jiao, and Pia Garcia contributed to this report.
