KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 29 — The Asean Foreign Ministers’ (AMM) Retreat in Laos today discussed the increased tension in Korean Peninsula, expressing grave concern over the surge in North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile testing and ballistic missile launches.
Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith emphasised that it was a worrisome development threatening peace and stability in the region.
The Asean Foreign Ministers urged North Korea to take action to de-escalate tension and called on all concerned parties to resume peaceful dialogue, including to create a conducive environment towards the realisation of lasting peace and stability in a denuclearised Korean Peninsula.
“We re-emphasised the importance of full compliance with all relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions and to abide by international law,” he said in a statement after chairing the retreat.
The AMM Retreat also discussed the situation in the South China Sea, during which concerns were expressed by some ministers on the land reclamations and activities, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region.
On that, the Asean Foreign Ministers reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities which would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation.
“We further reaffirmed the need to pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” he added.
They also emphasised the importance of self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea.
There is a need to maintain and promote an environment conducive to the ongoing negotiations of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.
To further promote peace, security, stability, and prosperity in East Asia, the AMM Retreat welcomed the continued efforts to revitalise the Trilateral Mechanism of Japan, China and South Korea, noting that Asean stands ready to play a constructive role in facilitating such engagements in conjunction with Asean meetings where all three parties are also involved.
Kommasith said Asean Foreign Ministers also expressed grave concern over the continued escalation of violence and armed conflict in the Middle East.
They urged an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and called for the immediate and unconditional release of civilian hostages and detainees, especially women, children, the sick and the elderly.
They reaffirmed Asean’s support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people towards the creation of an independent State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The retreat also took note of the order on provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice in its interim ruling on January 26.
— Bernama
