The United States and Japan expressed concerns over the situation in the South China Sea, where Beijing has been aggressively pushing its territorial claims, and took up China's nuclear arms issue during talks with ASEAN and partner nations Friday.
Speaking at the foreign ministerial meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum, one of the few international security dialogue frameworks in which North Korea participates, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined other countries in calling for Pyongyang's denuclearization while urging ARF members to press Myanmar's junta to end its violence against the people, according to the State Department.
The meeting of the 27-member ARF, which also includes countries such as China and South Korea, was held as part of this week's series of virtual gatherings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Brunei is serving as ASEAN's chair this year.