North Korea has accused South Korea, the United States, and Japan of using the recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) forum to stoke hostility. The North’s foreign ministry criticized the trio for pushing a US-led security alliance and pressuring North Korea to denuclearize, despite deeming it an unviable path. The comments were made in response to the ASEAN meetings held in the Philippines this week, which North Korea skipped for the second consecutive year.
The North Korean spokesperson, in a statement carried by state media, condemned the US and its allies for fostering confrontation and division within the ASEAN framework. The ministry’s spokesperson emphasized that Southeast Asia should not be a platform for advancing US interests and inciting animosity towards other nations. The spokesperson also asserted that the issue of North Korea’s denuclearization had been conclusively settled and should not be reopened by the US, Japan, and South Korea.
Furthermore, North Korea criticized the US-led security and economic bloc, labeling it as a significant threat and accusing it of systematically violating global nuclear non-proliferation norms. Despite these criticisms, North Korea expressed a positive view of ASEAN’s role in promoting regional prosperity and pledged to enhance ties with member states. The country vowed to defend its sovereignty against any hostile actions while actively contributing to regional peace and cooperation.
