N. Korea expects to make a stance on nuclear arms in Manila regional meeting

Record ID: 905124

  • Title: N. Korea expects to make a stance on nuclear arms in Manila regional meeting
  • Date: 3rd August 2017
  • Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM (ARF) MEETING VENUE SIGN READING (English): "ASEAN 2017" FLAGS OF PARTICIPANT COUNTRIES NORTH KOREAN FLAGS (FOURTH FROM LEFT) AMONG OTHER PARTICIPANT NATIONS' FLAGS SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (RECENT - JULY 29, 2017) (REUTERS) TRAFFIC AND PEOPLE PASSING ON SEOUL STREET SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JULY 31, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF UNIVERSITY OF NORTH KOREAN STUDIES PROFESSOR OF UNIVERSITY OF NORTH KOREAN STUDIES, YANG MOO-JIN, USING HIS PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PROFESSOR OF UNIVERSITY OF NORTH KOREAN STUDIES, YANG MOO-JIN, SAYING: "At the current stage, where the level of distrust is so deep between the two Koreas, the North might come out trying to justify its possession of nuclear power during the ARF meeting."
  • Embargoed: 17th August 2017 02:17
  • Keywords: ASEAN Philippines Foreign Ministers Japan missiles North Korea ARF South Korea China sanctions United States
  • Location: UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, NORTH KOREA / PYEONGTAEK, SEOUL, PAJU, PANMUNJOM, DEMILITARIZED ZONE, SOUTH KOREA / MANILA, PHILIPPINES / VIENTIANE, LAOS / HAMBURG, GERMANY
  • City: UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, NORTH KOREA / PYEONGTAEK, SEOUL, PAJU, PANMUNJOM, DEMILITARIZED ZONE, SOUTH KOREA / MANILA, PHILIPPINES / VIENTIANE, LAOS / HAMBURG, GERMANY
  • Country: Various
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0036SLQR0L
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: VIDEO CONTAINS EDITED KRT MATERIAL
    North Korea will likely justify its nuclear arm possession in an upcoming regional meeting, analysts say, with regional security expected to be high on the agenda at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila this week.
    The second North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch last weekend drew a sharp warning from the United States which responded by flying two supersonic B-1B bombers over the Korean peninsula. It also resulted in a rebuke from its closest ally, China, as well as tougher sanctions imposed by Japan.
    The latest test underscores the growing threat posed by the North's nuclear and missile programs as it has shown Pyongyang now may be able to reach most of the continental United States, two U.S. officials told Reuters.
    The Hwasong-14, named after the Korean word for Mars, reached an altitude of 3,724.9 km (2,314.6 miles) and flew 998 km (620 miles) before landing in the waters off the Korean peninsula's east coast, according to KCNA.
    North Korea is no stranger to ASEAN meetings, with Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, who has attended most of the past events, due to deliver remarks in a plenary meeting scheduled on Monday (August 7).
    Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, says Pyongyang is unlikely to call off its nuclear program, which he says is used to pressure the U.S..
    South Korea's new Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-Wha says she will discuss measures against North Korea's provocations when she travels to Manila for the ASEAN Regional Forum.
    Though Seoul says it is still finalizing bilateral meeting plans in Manila, and that nothing is yet confirmed, Yang says it is unlikely that Kang and Ri will meet.
    Philippines, the chair of ASEAN this year, said it will deal with North Korean issues cautiously after seeking consultations from its allies from Southeast Asia and East Asia.
    North Korea's vice foreign minister met with his Philippine counterpart on July 25 ahead of ARF. Two diplomats from the Philippines foreign ministry said the North Koreans were worried ASEAN may issue a strongly-worded statement about the situation on the Korean peninsula to pressure Pyongyang to abandon its planned missile tests.
    Pyongyang sent diplomats early this year to Manila to appeal to the ASEAN chairman not to embarrass North Korea during the regional meeting, which foreign ministers of Japan, Russia, China, South Korea and the United States are due to attend. It also sent a letter to ASEAN's secretary-general asking for help.
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