North Korean FM, Rice for KL meeting
Published: Jul 12, 2006 4:15 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam-Sun and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will both attend Southeast Asia's annual security forum this month, host Malaysia said.
North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam-Sun and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will both attend Southeast Asia's annual security forum this month, host Malaysia said.
Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said representatives from South Korea, China, Russia and Japan would also attend the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) on July 28 along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
"Definitely, the issue of security on the Korean peninsula will be a matter of interest to the members of the ARF," he said.
North Korea touched off a furious international response by test-launching seven missiles last week. Japan, the US and European nations are pressing for United Nations sanctions.
ARF will also bring together the six nations involved in nuclear disarmament negotiations which the communist North has shunned since November.
Syed Hamid said Paek would pay an official visit to Malaysia after the meeting.
He said Malaysia was prepared to host a meeting between Japan and North Korea in an attempt to ease tensions following the missile tests.
Four documents
Malaysia has close diplomatic ties with both countries and in October 2002 hosted normalisation talks between Japan and North Korea.
Syed Hamid also said that four documents would be inked during the gathering. They include the Asean framework agreement on visa exemption and the plan of action to implement the Asean-US enhanced partnership.
The other documents are the Asean-Canada joint declaration to curb international terrorism.
Syed Hamid said France would sign a Southeast Asian peace treaty, making it the first European nation to accede to Asean's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.
Signing of the treaty is a condition for entry to the East Asia Summit, a 16-nation grouping seen as a possible precursor to a European-style East Asian Community. The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur last December.
The non-aggression pact commits signatories to respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member countries and bans violence as a means to settle regional disputes.
Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said representatives from South Korea, China, Russia and Japan would also attend the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) on July 28 along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
"Definitely, the issue of security on the Korean peninsula will be a matter of interest to the members of the ARF," he said.
North Korea touched off a furious international response by test-launching seven missiles last week. Japan, the US and European nations are pressing for United Nations sanctions.
ARF will also bring together the six nations involved in nuclear disarmament negotiations which the communist North has shunned since November.
Syed Hamid said Paek would pay an official visit to Malaysia after the meeting.
He said Malaysia was prepared to host a meeting between Japan and North Korea in an attempt to ease tensions following the missile tests.
Four documents
Malaysia has close diplomatic ties with both countries and in October 2002 hosted normalisation talks between Japan and North Korea.
Syed Hamid also said that four documents would be inked during the gathering. They include the Asean framework agreement on visa exemption and the plan of action to implement the Asean-US enhanced partnership.
The other documents are the Asean-Canada joint declaration to curb international terrorism.
Syed Hamid said France would sign a Southeast Asian peace treaty, making it the first European nation to accede to Asean's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.
Signing of the treaty is a condition for entry to the East Asia Summit, a 16-nation grouping seen as a possible precursor to a European-style East Asian Community. The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur last December.
The non-aggression pact commits signatories to respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member countries and bans violence as a means to settle regional disputes.
View Comments0