[Yonhap News Photo]
North Korea requested setting up dialogue partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), but the regional bloc has rejected the invitation because of the tense security situation on the Korean Peninsula, a Malaysian diplomat familiar with the matter said.
"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DRPK) requested it, (but) as of now I don't think it is being considered," Shahafeez Shaharis, director at the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' ASEAN-Malaysia secretariat, told a group of South Korean journalists visiting the country on an exchange program.
"They have to meet requirements (for partnership). Under the current situation, it's going to be quite challenging for ASEAN to consider (the request). I don't think it's an issue to be considered," the official said, highlighting that "We are focusing more on the situation on the peninsula to decrease."
His comments reflect the level of condemnation the global community, including ASEAN, has expressed over North Korea's recent series of military provocations such as the two nuclear tests in January and September.
"We are very concerned about the violations of resolutions by the DPRK," Shaharis said, referring to North Korea by its official name. "We, ASEAN, condemn and we share and express our concern."
The regional group of 10 Southeast Asian countries holds regular dialogue with South Korea, China and Japan in the form of ASEAN Plus Three. Currently North Korea's engagement with ASEAN is limited to the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), a multilateral dialogue involving 27 Asia Pacific countries.
The Malaysian diplomat also underlined ASEAN's focus on more engagement and dialogue in dealing with North Korea's nuclear issues.
(Yonhap)
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
