DPRK delegation in Manila to discuss ASEAN Reg’l Forum preps

The 27 ARF participating countries include the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (PNA photo)

MANILA, July 26— A delegation from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) headed by Vice Foreign Minister Choe Hui Chol visited Manila on Wednesday to discuss preparations for the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to be held here next week.

Its Foreign Minister Ri Su-Yong will participate in the ARF, an important forum for security dialogue in Asia.

“The sole purpose is to prepare for the foreign minister’s visit next week. For now, it’s just the preparations for ARF,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Robespierre Bolivar told reporters.

The ARF aims to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on political and security issues of common interest and concern and to promote confidence-building and preventive diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region.

The 27 ARF participating countries include the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, European Union, India, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Russia, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste and the United States.

ASEAN groups Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The 24th ARF, the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM), Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs), 18th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and 7th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers Meeting are scheduled to be held on August 2 to 8 in Manila. (Leslie D. Venzon/PNA)