APEC Leaders Urge North Korea to Abandon Nuclear Weapons Program

Strategic Insights -

Leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum member economies wrapped up their two-day summit in Hanoi, endorsing a chairman's oral statement calling on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. The statement, announced separately from the APEC leaders' special statement and declaration, expressed strong concern over North Korea's recent missile launches and nuclear test, posing a threat to peace and security in the region. The leaders stressed the need for full implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1695 and 1718 and emphasized their support for the six-party talks, encouraging concrete and effective steps toward full implementation of the September 2005 joint statement.

Key Takeaways:

  • The APEC leaders issued a chairman's oral statement calling on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program, expressing strong concern over recent missile launches and nuclear tests.
  • The statement emphasized the need for full implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1695 and 1718 and supported the six-party talks.
  • The talks are expected to restart in early December, after being deadlocked for over a year due to North Korea's boycott.
  • South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun announced a plan to donate $2 million in aid to APEC between 2007 and 2009.
  • The Asia-Pacific leaders reaffirmed their determination to pursue global free trade, adopting the "Hanoi Declaration" and a special statement on the Doha Development Agenda (DDA).
  • APEC members consist of 21 economies, including South Korea, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.

Statistics:

  • The APEC leaders will provide $2 million in aid to APEC member economies between 2007 and 2009.
  • The talks between North Korea and its negotiating partners have been deadlocked for over a year.
  • The six-party talks aim to achieve a nuclear-weapons-free Korean Peninsula.
  • The Doha Round has been stalled, with the APEC leaders reaffirming their support for the Doha Development Agenda (DDA).
  • APEC consists of 21 member economies.

Sources:

  • (Asia Pulse, November 20)
  • (Yonhap)