2nd LD) Korea, ASEAN drawing up joint statement on N. Korea: Thai premier

((ATTN: UPDATES with remarks from a South Korean official, more details)
By Byun Duk-kun
JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the 10 member
countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plan to issue a
joint statement at the end of their special summit here that will urge North
Korea to refrain from further provocations and respect U.N.-imposed sanctions,
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Monday.

The statement will "reaffirm our stance and desire for peace and stability in the
region," Abhisit told reporters, adding senior officials of Korea and ASEAN
countries are working on the statement.
North Korea said on May 25 that it successfully conducted a second nuclear test,
prompting strong condemnation from South Korea and its allies.
The U.N. Security Council is currently negotiating a resolution to place
additional sanctions on Pyongyang. The North is already prohibited from any
nuclear or ballistic activities and trade of heavy arms under a U.N. resolution
adopted in 2006 shortly after its first nuclear detonation.
The Thai prime minister did not clarify whether the joint statement will be a
separate document from the one expected to be issued at the end of a special
Korea-ASEAN summit.
Lee Dong-kwan, spokesman for South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae,
said the leaders will issue a separate statement that urges North Korea to halt
its provocative actions and return to the negotiating table over its nuclear
ambition.
"The statement will condemn North Korea's latest nuclear test while calling on
the U.N. Security Council to take swift and concrete steps to counter the North's
provocative action," Lee told a press briefing.
Regional leaders are here in the southern resort island of Jeju for the special
Korea-ASEAN summit that was set to begin later Monday.
The summit, commemorating the 20th anniversary of South Korea-ASEAN dialogue
partnership, ends Tuesday.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)