Bali: Foreign ministers from 10 Southeast Asian nations are calling for a speedy resumption of talks aimed at convincing North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program.
China, the US, Japan, South Korea and Russia had been negotiating since 2003 to persuade Pyongyang to dismantle the program in exchange for aid and other concessions. The North pulled out of the talks about two years ago after being censured for launching a long-range rocket. It has indicated willingness in recent months to return to the table.
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations issued a statement on Thursday after their annual get-together, urging "the early resumption of the six-party talks”.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, July 21, 2011, 14:09