13 th ASEM summit was held on November 25-26, 2021 under the theme of “Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth”. It discussed the issues on strengthening dialogue and fostering cooperation between Asia and Europe based on multilateralism.
Multilateralism is a universal aspiration and desire of the international society to reject all kinds of unilateralism and hostile policies and promote dialogue and cooperation between countries so as to ensure the shared welfare and prosperity.
However, the Chair’s statement announced at this meeting still remains same as before over the issue of the Korean peninsula: It called on all parties to implement UNSC “sanctions resolutions” and picked up again the “human rights” issue and the resolution of the abduction issue, underlining the UNSC resolution for the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes.
The meeting this time avoided touching upon the root cause of the aggravating situation on the Korean peninsula. Instead, it only echoed the prejudiced assertions of the hostile forces which are trying to stifle our Republic. This conduct is also unbecoming to the face of ASEM as a global forum for policy dialogue.
The root cause of the tension on the Korean Peninsula today lies in the U.S. hostile policy against the DPRK and its double standard. Therefore, it is too natural for us to build up our own defense capability to safeguard the sovereignty, the right to existence and the right to development of our state and people.
We are really curious to know if any state among ASEM members would while away, leaving the destiny of its country and nation in the hands of outside forces, when its sovereignty and right to existence are in danger.
No matter how often leaders of ASEM member states sit around the table and publish statements, it would bring no change to the situation on the Korean Peninsula as long as the U.S. hostile policy against the DPRK remains unchanged.
If ASEM is really prepared to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, it should, first of all, put in question the U.S. and its vassal forces’ hostile policies against the DPRK - the root cause of instability on Korean peninsula, as befits its mission as a global forum for policy dialogue.
Jong Hyon Chol
Researcher
Society for International Political Study
More From Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EN)
Comrade Choe Son Hui, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), received a congratulatory
April 07, 2026
Comrade Choe Son Hui, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), received a congratulatory
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs Commission
April 07, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs Commission
Comrade Pak Thae Song, Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), received a congratulatory
April 07, 2026
Comrade Pak Thae Song, Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), received a congratulatory
Song Se Il has been appointed as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
April 07, 2026
Song Se Il has been appointed as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
A reception was given by the DPRK embassy in Moscow on March 31 to mark the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK).
April 05, 2026
A reception was given by the DPRK embassy in Moscow on March 31 to mark the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK).
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea sent a
April 04, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea sent a
Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a congratulatory message from Wang Yi,
April 04, 2026
Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a congratulatory message from Wang Yi,
A reception was given at the DPRK embassy in Beijing on March 31 to mark the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
April 04, 2026
A reception was given at the DPRK embassy in Beijing on March 31 to mark the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a congratulatory message from Li
April 04, 2026
Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a congratulatory message from Li
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, President of the State Affairs of the
April 04, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, President of the State Affairs of the
Jo Yong Won, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,
April 04, 2026
Jo Yong Won, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
April 04, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK),
April 03, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK),
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a reply
April 03, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a reply
The Western hegemony-seeking policy and arbitrariness are shaking the foundation of global peace and security and entailing a
April 03, 2026
The Western hegemony-seeking policy and arbitrariness are shaking the foundation of global peace and security and entailing a
China continues to toughen its stance towards the separatist attempts of the “Taiwan independence” forces. In a recent so-called s
April 03, 2026
China continues to toughen its stance towards the separatist attempts of the “Taiwan independence” forces. In a recent so-called s
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) issued the following
April 02, 2026
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) issued the following
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a flower basket and a congratulatory letter from Abbas Talebifar, Iranian ambassador to
April 02, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a flower basket and a congratulatory letter from Abbas Talebifar, Iranian ambassador to
People across the country have turned out with dynamism in the efforts to carry out important tasks set force in the decision of
April 02, 2026
People across the country have turned out with dynamism in the efforts to carry out important tasks set force in the decision of
Russia has increased vigilance of late against the Western sabotage acts. Russia’s Secretary of the Security Council, in a
April 02, 2026
Russia has increased vigilance of late against the Western sabotage acts. Russia’s Secretary of the Security Council, in a
More Articles
