JAKARTA, Indonesia — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has called on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to fully comply with the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolutions as he expressed concern over its recent surge of intercontinental ballistic missile tests.  

Marcos expressed this in his intervention during the 24th Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Republic of Korea (ASEAN-ROK) Summit here on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

“In the interest of maintaining peace and stability in the region, we express grave concern over the recent surge of intercontinental ballistic missile launches conducted by the DPRK,” President Marcos addressed his fellow ASEAN leaders and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

“We underscore the need for the DPRK to fully comply with all UN Security Council Resolutions,” he added.

Marcos likewise reaffirmed his commitment to the principles embodied in the “ROK’s Audacious Initiative” aimed at achieving a denuclearized DPRK that is an essential component for sustainable peace and prosperity in the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia, and the world.

“We look forward to the implementation of the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI), which will further deepen ASEAN and ROK’s collaboration on common political, economic, and social, cultural concerns,” he said.

“In particular, we welcome enhancing the policy dialogue on maritime affairs with the ROK under the initiative to contribute to the overall enhancement of ASEAN-ROK comprehensive security cooperation,” he added.

President Marcos also expressed his appreciation for the ROK’s continued support in upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as he shared concerns “on the militarization of reclaimed features; the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels; and other coercive activities.”

“We are equally alarmed by illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing which are being detected," he said.

"We thus thank the ROK, together with Japan and the United States, for reiterating the importance of international law in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific during the meetings recently held in Camp David (in the US),” he added.

Meanwhile, Marcos thanked South Korea for its assistance in addressing the massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro in April and for their contribution to emergency humanitarian assistance for damages caused by recent typhoons.

He also expressed his gratitude for South Korea's donation of 400 metric tons of rice to the Philippines through the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR).

In terms of the economy, the President emphasized the ASEAN and ROK should continue efforts on ASEAN connectivity and further expand through the effective implementation of ASEAN-ROK economic cooperation projects and programs to enhance supply chain mutual trade.

President Marcos also noted the importance of ASEAN’s strong partnership with the ROK in preserving biodiversity throughout the years, including the enhanced protection of migratory species and the conservation of their wetland habitats.