Asia's top diplomats pressed North Korea today to turn a pledge to completely dismantle its nuclear arsenal into reality amid concerns it's proceeding with its programs.
China and Southeast Asian nations also faced calls in an annual meeting in Singapore to rapidly conclude an effective nonaggression pact that can help fend off possible clashes in the disputed South China Sea.
Both sides have announced an agreement on an initial draft of a regional "code of conduct" that they regarded as a milestone after 16 years of sporadic talks.
Alarm over rising trade protectionism, which Asian governments warn could stymie economic growth, dominated the meetings too, with Japan calling for the swift conclusion of a 16-nation Asian free trade agreement that does not include the United States.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the rapprochement between North Korea and the United States, along with completion of a negotiating draft of the code of conduct for the South China Sea, are breakthroughs.
But he added that "like any other breakthrough in diplomatic negotiations, they may lead to something great, they may lead to nothing."
In the communique, they would "note" often a diplomatic subtlety for a reminder the "stated commitment" of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's formal name, "to complete denuclearization and its pledge to refrain from further nuclear and missile tests during this period."
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha warned that "rising anti-globalization and trade protectionism among major countries is fuelling tension and threatening our aspiration for sustained economic growth."
In a one-on-one meeting on the sidelines of the Singapore events, Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said he told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Asian countries like Malaysia "are quite nervous on the possible negative repercussion of the ongoing trade war."
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