ASEAN leaders urge DPRK to comply with int'l obligations

Southeast Asian leaders have urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to seriously comply with its international obligations during their summit on Saturday, voicing concerns over Pyongyang's test-firing of mid-range ballistic missiles.

The 10 leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held their 30th annual summit and retreat in Manila on Saturday.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, whose country holds the rotating chair of ASEAN this year, officially released the chairman's statement on Sunday.

"We discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula and are gravely concerned about recent developments, including (DPRK's) two nuclear tests in 2016 and subsequent launches using ballistic missile technology like the submarine-launched ballistic missile," the ASEAN leaders said in a chairman's statement issued at the end of their summit.

"We urged (the DPRK) to immediately cease all actions that violate its international obligations and contravene U.N. Security Council resolutions," the leaders said.

The leaders reaffirmed the importance of compliance with international law and the full implementation of all relevant UN security Council resolutions.

The leaders also reiterated their support for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and "for the concerned parties to exercise restraint in order to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."

"We strongly urged (the DPRK) to comply with these resolutions and acknowledged the importance to exercise self-restraint and called on all parties to exert collective efforts in the interest of maintaining peace, security and stability in the region and the world," the leaders said.

The ASEAN, which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, is marking its 50th anniversary this year. Endit