ARF Adopts Chairman's Statement on Korean Peninsula Denuclearization for Second Year

The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), a key multilateral security dialogue in the Asia-Pacific, has issued a chairman's statement urging the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. This marks the second consecutive year the forum has adopted such a call, reflecting ongoing concerns about North Korea's nuclear program. The statement, released after the foreign ministers' meeting in Manila, Philippines, highlighted the importance of resuming peaceful dialogue among all parties to achieve sustainable peace and stability on a denuclearized peninsula.

North Korea did not participate in the forum this year, as it did last year. However, member states including South Korea, the United States, China, Japan, and Russia used the ARF platform to express their positions on regional and international affairs, including the Korean Peninsula. The statement specifically noted the "developments on the Korean Peninsula" with concern and stressed that diplomatic efforts, including fostering a conducive environment for peaceful dialogue among all relevant parties, must remain a top priority. The ARF reaffirmed its readiness to play a role in creating an atmosphere for dialogue with North Korea.

Notably, the phrasing regarding denuclearization has evolved. While ARF statements from 2024 and earlier called for international efforts towards "complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization" (CVID) of the Korean Peninsula, the 2025 statement uses the term "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." This adjustment, which lowers the intensity of the demand, is interpreted as a strategic move by the South Korean government to encourage North Korea's potential engagement and willingness to participate in dialogue. The ARF also confirmed its readiness to facilitate dialogue with Pyongyang.

Furthermore, a separate statement from the ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan, South Korea) foreign ministers' meeting on July 26 (local time) supported efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea through active de-escalation and confidence-building measures. These efforts aim to achieve peaceful coexistence and common prosperity on the peninsula through expanded inter-Korean exchanges, normalization of relations, and progress in denuclearization.