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Peace, prosperity, people: ASEAN, South Korea vow to build stronger ties
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo examines a wall of art. (Presidential Press Bureau/Muchlis)
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SEAN and South Korean leaders concluded their two-day summit on Tuesday, agreeing not only to step up economic and sociocultural cooperation but also to support denuclearization and permanent peace in the contentious Korean Peninsula.
The commitment was outlined in a document called the Joint Vision Statement for Peace, Prosperity and Partnership, which was adopted during the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit in Busan to mark 30 years of dialogue between South Korea and the Southeast Asian bloc.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the countries agreed to work more closely to build a “peaceful east Asian community”.
“We, the leaders, share the view that peace and stability in Northeast Asia are linked to the security of Southeast Asia and to the cooperation in building peace in the region,” Moon said, as quoted by The Korea Herald.
The ASEAN leaders, Moon said, pledged to assist the peace process in the Korean Peninsula. They expressed support for Moon's idea of transforming the Demilitarized Zone into an “international peace zone”, which he first proposed at a recent UN General Assembly.
ASEAN has been eyeing a role in the Korean peace process, including through a sideline meeting at the Busan summit. But North Korean leader Kim Jong-un turned down Moon’s invitation to participate as an observer at the regional summit. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said there was no reason for Kim to visit the South under a “beclouded air”.
Reuters previously reported that Pyongyang had conducted seven missile tests since US President Donald Trump met with Kim earlier this year. Their meeting ended without an agreement. One of North Korea’s top nuclear negotiators, who is also a close aide to Kim, said last week it would be the fault of the United States if diplomacy on the issue broke down.
