T

he 10-nation ASEAN expressed on Monday its disappointment at North Korea for its continuous testing of missiles in apparent disregard of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

During the 24th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) plenary session, ASEAN foreign ministers and other concerned parties raised the issue, aiming specifically at the delegation that Pyongyang sent to attend the key regional security meeting.

During Indonesia’s turn, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi reminded the North of its obligations under ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), a document that a country is required to accede to if it wishes to engage with ASEAN.

Retno said that Pyongyang’s testing of missiles goes against its commitments under articles 10 and 13 of the TAC, which state that contracting parties should not participate in activities that “constitute a threat to the political and economic stability” and should “refrain from the threat or use of force.”

“There are 30 high-contracting parties of the TAC, including North Korea. It’s time for the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] to show some responsibility [...] and be a responsible member of the international community,” she told a press briefing.

According to a final draft of the ARF chairman’s statement obtained by The Jakarta Post, the convening foreign ministers “urged all concerned parties to allow space for the resumption of dialogue.”

A diplomatic source privy to the closed-door talks said that the North had asked for countries that were “not directly involved in the matter” not to interfere.

Separately, Philippine Foreign Minister Alan Peter Cayetano met with his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho to personally convey the ASEAN position shortly before the convening of the East Asia Summit (EAS) foreign ministers’ meeting.

Cateyano presented ASEAN’s position on the issue, which was decided after the ministers convened in an informal late-night consolidation meeting on Friday.

“The statement was not borne out of lost friendship, but is because of frustration that there seems to be no opening for discussions or dialogue to address the impasse on the issues on the Korean Peninsula,” Cayetano told Ri, as quoted in a press release.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula dominated talks this past week in several ASEAN meetings hosted by the Philippines.

On Saturday, the region’s top diplomats issued a standalone statement on developments on the Korean Peninsula, reiterating their “grave concerns” over North Korea’s continued missile tests, while also indicating their preference for Pyongyang to remain engaged through the ARF, despite pressure from the United States to isolate the reclusive state.

Later that day, the UNSC unanimously imposed new sanctions aimed at pressuring Pyongyang to end its nuclear program. The sanctions could slash its US$3 billion annual export revenues by a third.

North Korea responded robustly and in traditional fashion on Monday, saying the UN moves were unwarranted and unfair and that it was ready to teach the US a “severe lesson” if it launched an attack.

Newly appointed Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono told a press briefing late on Monday he was “for” isolating the North.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson seemingly softened his stance toward Pyongyang, saying he was still open to dialogue.

“When the conditions are right, then we can sit and have a dialogue around the future of North Korea so they feel secure and prosper economically,” he told reporters as quoted by Reuters.

“The best signal that North Korea can give us that they are prepared to talk would be to stop these missile launches,” said Tillerson, adding that “other means of communications” were open to Pyongyang.

Retno indicated she had urged her American counterpart to be cautious.