South Korea’s vice foreign minister seeks Laos’ support against North Korean threats at upcoming ASEAN summits
Seoul, Aug 22: A senior South Korean diplomat has sought Laos’ support in sending a strong and unified message against North Korea’s military and other provocative activities at the upcoming summits involving key Southeast Asian nations, Seoul officials said on Thursday.
Vice Foreign Minister Chung Byung-won made the request during a courtesy call on Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry reported, Yonhap news agency reported.
Chung was visiting Laos to attend a senior officials’ meeting for a series of multilateral summits with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this week, including the Korea-Mekong Business Forum, the East Asia Summit and talks between ASEAN and its three Northeast Asian dialogue partners – South Korea, China and Japan.
At the meeting, Chung expressed concern over the North’s ballistic missile launches and sending balloons carrying garbage across the border to the South, as well as its illegal military cooperation with Russia.
The ministry said Chung asked Laos, the chair of upcoming ASEAN-related summits in October, to “play an active role in ensuring that a clear and firm message will be sent to North Korea.”
In response, Saleumxay said Laos supports Korea’s denuclearisation efforts and its international commitment to implementing UN Security Council resolutions against Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs.
He said Laos, as chair, will do everything possible to help advance these efforts.
Chung also proposed that Korea and Laos work together to elevate bilateral relations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” on the occasion of the upcoming ASEAN summit, the ministry said.
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