Hanoi (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The United States is calling on Asian nations to support sanctions against North Korea which, in turn, is demanding the suspension of joint US-South Korea naval manoeuvres because they "are a serious threat to peace and stability.
Both demands were voiced yesterday and today in Hanoi, on the sidelines of the current ASEAN meeting (pictured), the organization that brings together 27 Asian countries, but also the United States.
Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State attended today’s meeting, where she "asked our friends and allies to continue to implement the sanctions decided by the UN to encourage North Korea to take the decisions that need to be taken." "Here in Asia - she added - an isolated and belligerent North Korea has embarked on a campaign of dangerous provocations," including "an attack against the South Korean naval vessel Cheonan”.
She claimed that they "are not only a serious threat to peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula but also the whole region." Even China, the main ally of Pyongyang has criticized the announced joint exercises and has launched its own naval operations along its eastern coast.