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)
Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and foreign minister of the
April 11, 2026
Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and foreign minister of the
Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and foreign minister of the
April 11, 2026
Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and foreign minister of the
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and President of the State Affairs of
April 11, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and President of the State Affairs of
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a policy speech at the historic First Session of the 15 th Supreme People’s Assembly of
April 10, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a policy speech at the historic First Session of the 15 th Supreme People’s Assembly of
The government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) hosted a reception in the evening on April 9 for Comrade Wang
April 10, 2026
The government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) hosted a reception in the evening on April 9 for Comrade Wang
Comrade Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Foreign
April 10, 2026
Comrade Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Foreign
Comrade Choe Son Hui, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and Minister of
April 10, 2026
Comrade Choe Son Hui, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and Minister of
King Norodom Sihamoni and Great Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk of the Kingdom of Cambodia sent large flower baskets to the
April 10, 2026
King Norodom Sihamoni and Great Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk of the Kingdom of Cambodia sent large flower baskets to the
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs Commission
April 09, 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 09, 2026
Comrade Pak Thae Song, Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), received a congratulatory
Comrade Choe Son Hui, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), received a congratulatory
April 09, 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, President of the State Affairs of the
April 09, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, President of the State Affairs of the
High-handed and arbitrary practices in international relations are now leading to ever-aggravating political, economic, and social
April 09, 2026
High-handed and arbitrary practices in international relations are now leading to ever-aggravating political, economic, and social
A joint meeting and a commemorative reception of political parties and organizations in the Nordic region took place in Sweden to
April 09, 2026
A joint meeting and a commemorative reception of political parties and organizations in the Nordic region took place in Sweden to
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs Commission
April 08, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs Commission
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).
More Articles
