In a statement on behalf of ASEAN, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said the regional body is united in calling for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula because it is essential in maintaining peace and stability in the Asia Pacific Region.
"We are therefore deeply concerned by North Korea’s announcement that they have conducted a nuclear test," he said.
"Such a test is inconsistent with (North Korea’s) commitments under the Joint Statement of September 2005, and threatens the peace and security of East Asia.
"We therefore protest such testing, and strongly enjoined (North Korea) to desist from conducting further tests, and appeal to all parties concerned to exercise restraint, and to refrain from taking action that will aggravate tension."
Romulo said that ASEAN reaffirms the importance of dialogue among all parties for the peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue.
Romulo said North Korea’s nuclear test violates two agreements: the Six-Party Talk’s Sept. 19, 2006 Joint Statement on the
Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and United Nations Security Council) Resolution 1695 and the principles of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
The Philippines joined the call of the community of nations for North Korea to desist from conducting further nuclear tests and to adhere to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, he added.
At Malacañang, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the Philippines is leaving it up to the United Nations Security Council to come up with actions to deal with North Korea.
"The Philippines entrusts to the UN Security Council the best options to deal with this issue," he said.
"We are for the peace and stability in the region and it is our responsibility to support any and all efforts to deescalate the situation and to restore peace and stability in the region.
"Meanwhile, we will take our own measures to protect our nationals from the threat of harm," he said.
Last Wednesday, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Philippines would fully back any UN resolution to sanction North Korea for conducting nuclear tests.
"The country’s position will be in accord with the position taken by the rest of the world," he said. "We will support whatever resolution the UN will issue to sanction the North Korean government for this nuclear test."
President Arroyo has directed the Department of Foreign Affairs to draft a proposed position to be taken by the Asean, which the Philippines currently chairs, on the security issue, Ermita said.
Mrs. Arroyo had ordered government agencies to prepare contingency plans for the possible evacuation of Filipino workers in South Korea and other countries that may be threatened by a North Korean nuclear attack.
She has directed the DFA and Department of Labor and Employment to draw up plans similar to those undertaken for the evacuation of Filipinos during the 2003 Iraq war and the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon earlier this year.
"It may be still premature to put evacuation plans in motion as far as Korea is concerned, but we have instructed the DFA and the DOLE to be ready and prepared at all times," Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement.
"We have contingency plans that act as a protective mantle over our nationals in all corners of the globe, whose safety and security are our primary concern," she said.
Reports said the test could confirm North Korea’s claim that it has atomic weapon capabilities, and would severely undermine efforts to prevent an Asian nuclear arms race.
North Korea has boycotted the six-nation nuclear talks, which also involve China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States, for nearly a year.
Last July, the Philippines issued a "mildly worded" statement in which the government expressed deep concern over North Korea’s plan to conduct nuclear tests to bolster its defense.
In a statement on July 5, Romulo said: "These missile tests will have a negative impact on the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region and run counter to the confidence-building efforts being undertaken at the ASEAN Regional Forum."
The US urged the Philippines to use its role as ASEAN chairman to bring back North Korea to the six-party talks on the nuclear weapons program.
Asean called on North Korea to abide by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1695, particularly on its return to the Six-Party Talks, to work towards the expeditious implementation of the Sept. 19, 2005 Joint Statement, and to return at an early date to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Philippines condemned on Monday the conduct of nuclear tests, saying that North Korea’s act constitutes a threat to peace, security and stability in the region and the world. — Pia Lee-Brago, Paolo Romero, Dave Oscar III