A Japanese media outlet has reported that Washington will discuss the suspension of North Korea’s membership of the ASEAN Regional Forum(ARF) during its annual meeting set to open Sunday in Manila.
 
Kyodo News Thursday quoted Acting Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton as saying the North violated ASEAN’s goal of preventing regional conflicts.
 
Emphasizing that the North’s nuclear and missile programs are a violation of UN Security Council resolutions, Thornton said the U.S. will have a serious discussion with other ARF members on whether to suspend the North’s membership.
 
The ARF consists of ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) and its 17 regional partners, including the U.S., the two Koreas, Japan and China. 

[Photo : ]