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		</div><p>Southeast Asia&#8217;s top diplomats have criticised North Korea over its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests.</p>
<p>The envoys urged Pyongyang to comply with its duty of helping avert conflicts as a member of Asia&#8217;s biggest security forum.</p>
<p>The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers however were split on an American proposal to suspend Pyongyang from the ASEAN Regional Forum, a 27-nation bloc that includes North Korea, the US, South Korea and Japan.</p>
<p>Ministers reiterated in a joint statement their grave concerns over the escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula due to the North&#8217;s two ICBM tests last month, saying the launches threaten world stability.</p>
<p>The ministers traditionally issue a communique containing their diverse concerns, and their issuance of a separate statement on North Korea&#8217;s missile tests and nuclear weapons programme reflects their deep worries about the issue.</p>
<p><i>&#8220;These developments seriously threaten peace, security and stability in the region and the world,&#8221;</i> the ministers said in their statement. They urged the North to immediately and fully comply with its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions.</p>
<p>They also backed efforts to improve relations between the two Koreas and said their 10-nation bloc was ready &#8220;to play a constructive role in contributing to peace and stability&#8221; on the Korean Peninsula.</p>
<p>Philippine foreign secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the ministers were divided over a US proposal to suspend the North from the ASEAN Regional Forum, which will hold its annual meeting on Monday.</p>
<p>North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong Ho will attend Monday&#8217;s meeting with the US, Japan and South Korea expected to push for stronger actions against the North.</p>
<p><i>&#8220;There were views that, &#8216;How can we hear them out or confront them if they&#8217;re not there?&#8217; But there&#8217;s also a view that we should give them an ultimatum,&#8221;</i> Mr Cayetano said on Friday after discussing the issue with other foreign ministers.</p>
<p>The ministers &#8220;strongly call upon&#8221; North Korea, as a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum, to help &#8220;maintain the Asia Pacific as a region of lasting peace, stability, friendship and prosperity,&#8221; the ministers added in their statement.</p>
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