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ASEAN Regional Forum Agrees to Admit North Korea
All 22 members of Southeast Asia's security consultative group, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), have endorsed North Korea's bid to join it, Thailand's foreign minister said on Wednesday in Singapore.
"All our members, 22 of us, have endorsed the idea. This decision...is pretty unanimous that ARF should welcome the participation of North Korea as a new member," Surin Pitsuwan told reporters.
North Korea's Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun submitted an official application to Surin in May, in a step towards ending decades of Cold War isolation.
"North Korea would contribute to a wider opportunity of confidence building within the ARF forum," Surin added.
Surin told a news conference North Korea would be sent "a final letter" informing it of the endorsement this week.
ARF members are due to meet in Bangkok in July.
The foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will hold their 33rd annual meeting in Bangkok for two days from July 24, Thai foreign officials said on Tuesday.
ASEAN groups Thailand with Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.
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