Admin l Friday, May 05, 2017
WASHINGTON, United States – Inability of countries bordering the Korean Peninsula to come out with a unified masterplan on tackling threats involving President Kim Jong-Un in the Korean Peninsula may prolong tension in the area.
Speaking via teleconference, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, W. Patrick Murphy said Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, share concern that North Korean provocations threaten the stability, peace, and prosperity of the entire region and the globe, but that wvery country is different on steps that can be taken to provocation in the region.
“Every country is a little bit different in terms of the steps that they can take. ASEAN has issued collectively important statements and at the ASEAN Summit in Manila this past weekend addressed North Korea in a very solid, uniform way as well.
“We think more can be done – not just in Southeast Asia, of course; around the entire world – so we are communicating with all countries to take steps to implement the UN Security Council resolutions and, most importantly, deny North Korea the revenue streams that it has used to advance is provocative programs. And this notion that more can be done does apply to Southeast Asia, so we are encouraging continued and further steps across all of ASEAN”, he said.
He explained that North Korea has enjoyed trading relationships and other economic associations with countries around the world, and that countries are increasingly cutting these ties, both in accordance with the Security Council resolutions and also additional measures.
He explained that the ASEAN can do more by making sure the resolutions are leak-proof.
“North Korea has been quite wily in recent years in trying to evade the UN Security Council resolutions and, as I mentioned earlier, using diplomatic cover for some of its activities. This is what we’re asking countries to do, is to cut these economic trading ties and to relook very carefully at the diplomatic presence in all of their countries”, he said
