APPF members urge North Korea to abandon nuclear program

MEMBER parliaments have agreed to urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to abide by the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council for its denuclearization, a move aimed at attaining peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region.

This was contained in one of the 10 resolutions adopted by member states that attended the 31st Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Manila from November 23 to 25.

The Member-States cited the “importance of establishing regional and international cooperation” to secure peace and stability on the Korean peninsula which will have a positive outcome on the region.

“…To secure peace and stability on the Korean peninsula is a key issue that directly links to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond through meaningful dialogue between the Republic of Korea and DPRK and between the DPRK and the international community among concerned parties,” they said.

The Member-States noted that several UNSC resolutions and the international community’s position that DPRK “cannot possess nuclear in any circumstances and shall not be recognized as a nuclear state” are important to achieve peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region.

The Member-States agreed to “request” the APPF member parliaments to reaffirm the importance of complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula “and to fully and steadily implement the relevant UNSC Resolutions” and for the DPRK “not to conduct any further provocative actions” like holding nuclear tests or launching ballistic missile technology, and to “abandon all weapons of mass destruction.”

They also agreed to “support the efforts of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea to hold an Inter-Korean parliamentary speakers’ meeting and encourage a dialogue between the parliaments of APPF Member States and the DPRK in order to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific region.”

APPF members also enjoined to “pay continuous attention” to the ongoing situation on the Korean Peninsula and support all efforts to completely denuclearize DPRK and a peaceful settlement of the Korean