N. Korea applies to ASEAN forum

Fri, 12 May 2000 | Source: AP

BANGKOK (AP): North Korea has applied to join the ASEAN Regional Forum, Thailand's foreign ministry said on Thursday.

North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun sent an official application to Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan on April 28, a ministry statement said.

Thailand is currently chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and will host the group's annual meeting of foreign ministers in July, which is followed by the ARF.

The 10 ASEAN members discuss regional security issues in the forum with 12 other nations, including the United States, Canada, China, Japan, Russia, India. The European Union also participates.

The move to join the ARF comes as communist North Korea moves to break decades of international isolation. Next month the leaders of North and South Korea -- yet to reach peace since the end of the 1950-1953 Korean War -- are set hold a historic summit.

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