Statement of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Democratic People's Republic of Korea's plan to test nuclear devices
Manila (8 October) -- The Philippines supports a world of peace and security. The Philippine Government views with grave concern the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) recent announcement that it will test nuclear devices.
We join the international community in urging the DPRK to refrain from conducting the nuclear tests and we support the resolution of this issue within the ambit of the Six-Party talks.
As a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum, DPRK has a shared stake in ensuring that peace and security in the region are maintained.
We urge the DPRK to abide by the commitment to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs as expressed in the Six-Party Talks Joint Statement of 19 September 2005.
The Philippine Government believes the concerns of all parties may be resolved through constructive dialogue and diplomacy for the mutual benefit of all regional and global stakeholders. (OPS) [top]