Conducive environment needed to ease Korean peninsula tension: Asean

Manila, Aug 5 (IANS) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) foreign ministers on Saturday urged North Korea and other parties to create a conducive environment to ease tensions in the Korean peninsula.

The Asean nations in a statement expressed "grave concerns over the escalation of tensions in the peninsula, including the most recent testing by North Korea of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in July and two nuclear tests in 2016", Xinhua news agency reported.

"These developments seriously threaten peace, security and stability in the region and the world. In this regard, we strongly urge North Korea to immediately comply fully with its obligations under all relevant UN Security Council resolutions," the Asean ministers said.

The ministers reiterated their support "for the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearisation of the peninsula in a special manner".

Calling for the exercise of self-restraint, the ministers underscored the importance of creating conditions conducive for dialogue to de-escalate tensions.

The ministers also expressed support to improve inter-Korean relations towards establishing permanent peace in the Korean peninsula.

The Asean ministers also called on North Korea, as a participant to the Asean Regional Forum (ARF), "to positively contribute to realising the ARF vision to maintain the Asia-Pacific as a region of peace, stability, friendship and prosperity.

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