Philippine FM to visit China, DPRK, South Korea

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo will leave Friday for a three-nation tour to China, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to further strengthen bilateral ties and discuss peace and security cooperation in the region, Foreign Affairs officials said on Thursday.

Romulo's visit to DPRK was firmed up during the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum (ARF) senior officials meeting in Manila last month. This will be the first visit of a senior Filipino official to the country in several years.

"The Philippines wants to increase its engagement with DPRK. They accepted the offer at a meeting between the Philippines and DPRK at the sidelines of the ARF," one diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

"At the same time, the Philippines wants DPRK to remain active in its participation in the ARF," the diplomat added.

The Philippines has said it wishes the Korean Peninsula to remain nuclear-free, as this is essential in maintaining peace and stability in the Asia Pacific Region.

Manila also stressed that ASEAN reaffirms the importance of dialogue among all parties for the peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue.

The ASEAN also called on Pyongyang to abide by the provisions of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1695, particularly on its return to the six-party talks in Beijing, to work towards the expeditious implementation of the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement, and to return at an early date to the Non- Proliferation Treaty.

Source: Xinhua