Key facts
- North Korea accused South Korea, the U.S., and Japan of exploiting ASEAN meetings to incite hostility.
- Pyongyang stated that the U.S.-led security bloc is a threat and violates the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.
- North Korea asserted that its denuclearization is a concluded matter and cannot be discussed again.
- The country expressed a positive view of ASEAN's role in promoting regional co-prosperity.
North Korea on Friday accused South Korea, the United States, and Japan of exploiting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) forum to incite hostility and promote a U.S.-led security bloc. A spokesperson for North Korea's foreign ministry stated that these countries were abusing the ASEAN arena to justify their intentions, contrary to the region's focus on peace, development, and cooperation.