Flashpoints-strewn regional security forum kicks off

The two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and other major regional powers are embarking on a diplomatic race this week at a security forum in Vientiane amid tension over North Korea’s ceaseless military provocations and the planned stationing of U.S. anti-missile assets here.

Foreign ministers from around the Asia Pacific began to touch down in the Laotian capital on Sunday for the ASEAN Regional Forum, the region’s largest security conference organized by the 10-nation Southeast Asian bloc. 

With all members of the six-party denuclearization talks participating including Russia, the ARF is expected to offer a fresh gauge of the partners’ cooperation on Pyongyang’s nuclear program. After Seoul and Washington’s recent announcement of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery in South Korea, Beijing and Moscow staged a strong protest, saying it targets them and “tip the regional strategic balance,” which has fueled concerns over a possible crack in their collaboration on North Korea.

Signs of Cold War-like confrontation have also magnified since an international tribunal early this month rebuked China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea in favor of the sovereignty rights of the Philippines backed by the U.S.

“This time extremely complicated and difficult issues will be discussed, including North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats following its fourth nuclear test, the South China Sea and terrorism,” Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se told reporters before leaving for Vientiane on Saturday.

“I’m seeking to make efforts to have most foreign ministers send a message that the Security Council sanctions and resolutions against the North must be thoroughly implemented.” 

During his three-day stay, Yun is scheduled for bilateral meetings with 13 top diplomats, ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck has said. It would start with his Vietnamese counterpart later on Sunday, followed by Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s newly minted foreign minister and democracy fighter.

He will also likely meet separately with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.

Making a debut as North Korea’s new chief diplomat, Ri Yong-ho is anticipated to engage in a propaganda campaign, declaring yet again the country a nuclear weapons state, emboldened by the recent successful test of its Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile.

While the outlook remains slim for any one-on-one talks between Yun and Ri, they may encounter during Tuesday’s session where all ministers will gather for retreat and plenary sessions and a group photo.

“No bilateral meeting (with Ri) is planned for now. Given the nature of multilateral conferences, however, I don’t rule out the possibility to come across each other during the sessions,” Yun added.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)