PHNOM PENH, Cambodia—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday urged North Korea to comply with the United Nations (UN) security resolutions following its recent ballistic missile launches.

During his intervention at the 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit Retreat, Marcos talked about recent developments in the world that he said slowed down efforts towards economic progress.

He said these events also "uncovered the real struggle facing the human race: the defense of the common universal values that underpin our common humanity."

Among the issues discussed by Marcos before his fellow state leaders here was the nuclear threat posed by North Korea.

"We call on the DPRK to comply with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and we encourage the continuation of dialogue and engagement among concerned parties with the aim of stabilizing the situation in the region," he said.

Marcos also expressed his concerns that nuclear weapons have already become conventional weapons.

"Our greatest fear is that if nuclear weapons become conventional weapons by the use of another country, for example by Russia in Ukraine and it becomes a conventional weapon. It will encourage others to unleash their nuclear weapons. This will be the end of us all," he said.

The Cross Strait tension between China and Taiwan also concerned the President as he called on ASEAN foreign ministers last August for both parties to observe maximum restraint and refrain from taking provocative actions.