Xinhua News reports the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers have expressed deep concern over growing Korean Peninsula tensions.

The Chinese news agency cited a statement by the Malaysian Foreign Ministry as saying the ASEAN foreign ministers expressed deep concern over the tensions and called for immediate tension-easing measures at their meeting in Brunei.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa added that ASEAN can play a mediating role through the ASEAN Regional Forum in which both Koreas take part.

Concerning another regional issue, the ASEAN foreign ministerial meeting failed to adopt a joint statement on the territorial dispute in the South China Sea.