Present there were ambassadors of Vietnam, Laos and Indonesia and the charge d'affaires ad interim of Cambodia.

Pak Jong Hak, head of the Department of Asian Affairs No. 2 of the DPRK Foreign Ministry, informed of the present situation, in which the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK has reached extremely reckless stage, and the DPRK's principled stand on it.

Referring to the fact that the U.S. has openly pressurized other countries to sever or degrade the diplomatic ties with the DPRK by misusing the "sanction resolutions" against it, while intensifying the military pressure upon it through constant dispatch of huge nuclear strategic assets toward the Korean peninsula, he said:

Such pressure by use of "sanction resolutions" devoid of legality, morality and impartiality is a blatant infringement on the independence of a sovereign state and act of interference in other's internal affairs. This action totally runs counter to the ideal of ASEAN, essence of which is independence, equality, mutual respect and non-interference.

The DPRK, a full-fledged nuclear power, will do its utmost to ensure peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the region and boost the long-standing and traditional relations of friendship and cooperation with ASEAN countries.

The successful test-fire of new-type ground-to-ground medium long-range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12, conducted on May 14 under the direct guidance of respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, is of weighty and special significance in securing peace and security in the Korean peninsula and the region.

The DPRK is fully ready for any military action to be taken by U.S. against it. And it will increase the number of highly accurate and diversified nuclear weapons and nuclear strike means and step up the necessary tests until the U.S. and its followers come to their senses and make a right decision.

The participants in the briefing expressed their understanding of the DPRK's principled stand toward the situation prevailing on the Korean peninsula.