East Asia Summit Asks North Korea to Relinquish Nuclear Program

by YuGee / Sep 11, 2016 12:29 PM EDT

Photo taken June 22, 2016, in Beijing shows an informal security meeting attended by senior diplomats from six countries involved in talks on North Korea's nuclear program. For the first time since 2012, Pyongyang sent its officials to the Northeast Asia

On Thursday, the East Asia Summit (EAS) adopted a statement asking North Korea to abandon its missile and nuclear programs following South Korean President Park Geun Hye's call for "unequivocal words and actions" against the provocations from the North.

In a report from the Korea Times, this was the first time the regional strategy assembly has adopted a single-issue statement aside from the chairman's statement. The EAS is represented of 18 countries that include the United States, China, Japan, and the 10 member countries of ASEAN.

The statement called for the full implementation of all pertinent resolutions of the United Nations (UN) over the rising threats and provocations from North Korea. It reads, "We urge North Korea to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, and uphold its international legal obligations."

The EAS also urged for the continuance of joint efforts to proceed with the suspended six-party talks in order to make important developments regarding the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner.

The statement was endorsed following the North's test-firing of ballistic missiles despite international warnings. On Monday, Pyongyang reportedly fired three medium-ranged Rodong missiles while international leaders gathered at the G20 Summit held in China.

During the meeting, President Park said, "The adoption carries a great significance in that EAS leaders showed a strong determination against North Korea's repeated nuclear threat. Since its fourth nuclear test earlier this year, the North has fired a total of 22 ballistic missiles on 14 occasions, compared to 16 missiles launched during the 18-year reign of his father, Kim Jong Il. The North's provocations are an existential threat to our lives."

The statement also confirmed that the EAS leaders completely supported the adoption of Resolution 2270 that was imposed on the North on March 2. The sanction was given after North Korea's nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch in February.

The statement said, "We are registering deep concern over North Korea's subsequent and repeated ballistic missile launches in violation and flagrant disregard of the United Nations' relevant resolutions."