(VOVworld) - Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed grave concerns over the escalation of tension in the Korean Peninsula after two nuclear tests and missile launches by North Korea.

ASEAN Forieign Ministers in Manila, the Philippines (Photo: AP)

In a joint statement issued Friday, ministers called on all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint, de-escalate tension, refrain from actions that may aggravate the situation, and resume dialogue.

The ministers also urged North Korea to comply fully with its obligations arising from United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions and international laws in the interests of maintaining international peace and security.

The ASEAN authorities reiterated their determination to speed up the process in creating a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.

They agreed that against the current situation on the Korean peninsula and militarization in the East Sea, ASEAN needs to have a strong, common voice in order to make more practical contributions towards the international peace and stability.