They took note of efforts between the 10-member ASEAN and China toward an early conclusion of a "meaningful" code of conduct in the South China Sea as part of efforts to defuse tensions over the sea, in which Beijing has overlapping claims with its smaller neighbors such as the Philippines and Vietnam.
Reports said all ASEAN members have diplomatic relations with North Korea and five have embassies there.
According to the DFA, acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo is leading the Philippine delegation to the special meeting which is expected to provide the opportunity to review ASEAN and U.S. relations, apart from exchanging views on regional and global issues, among others. "They recognized the need for full implementation of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions", she said.
This coincided with moves by China and ASEAN to draft a framework to negotiate a code of conduct.
"We are clear - we've been clear to them this is not about regime change, this is not about regime collapse, this is not about an accelerated reunification of the peninsula, this is not about us looking for an excuse to come north of the 38th Parallel", he said.
The top US diplomat urged "all parties involved to stop militarization, construction, reclamation of land in the South China Sea while talks are going on", Patrick Murphy, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said on a call with reporters. "And they wanted to make it clear early on that as a strategic partner - ASEAN has been a strategic partner of the U.S. - they wanted to continue with the United States administration, the new administration, this partnership, this relationship, and to ensure sustained USA engagement in the region".
"Our immediate concern is to try and ensure the tension on the peninsula doesn't increase".
While human rights concerns hampered former President Barack Obama's engagement with Southeast Asia, Tillerson signaled a shifting approach Wednesday, saying that the USA can't always afford to condition its foreign relationships on other governments sharing American values.
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Right away I started freaking out. "I think he's just being charged with tampering with evidence or something like that". Friday, the Centre County district attorney announced 18 members of the organization now face criminal charges.
Asked about the possibility of China filling a "vacuum" left by the US's withdrawal from the TPP, he said the economic logic for relating with South-east Asia was powerful, and "we hope that in some fashion the United States will continue this journey of building economic ties with us", The Straits Times reported.
The US is ready to ramp up pressure against North Korea through additional penalties, secondary sanctions and a tighter implementation of United Nations resolutions, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday, adding "a lot of work" is left to maximize its strategy.
One topic that featured dominantly in the talks between Mr Tillerson and his Asean counterparts was the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, where China's rapid island reclamation activities and construction of military facilities have heightened concerns of militarisation of the strategic waterway.
The Washington meeting precedes a more formal session in Manila in August to prepare for the US-ASEAN summit that President Donald Trump will attend in November.
"So that North Korea does not gain benefit from its diplomatic channels for its nuclear and missile aspirations", Murphy added.
"We had a very good meeting: short, sharp and to the point", Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan told reporters.
Murphy said the USA remains committed to freedom of navigation and commerce in the South China Sea.
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