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
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