Philippines 'very much relieved' over Koreas Summit

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has expressed relief at the rival Koreas’ move to put an end to their decades-long conflict and repeat past vows to remove nuclear weapons from the peninsula.

“Of course everyone is relieved because we were all looking at the past prospects of a nuclear encounter in our backyard. So [we’re] very much relieved,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque was quoted as saying in media reports.

“As you know, whenever they test their missiles, it always lands on Philippine waters,” Roque also said, adding that Southeast Asian leaders are expected to congratulate North Korea and South Korea “for their effort to talk peace.”

After a year of tensions, the first North-South Korea summit in more than a decade began Friday with a handshake.

Despite the bold declarations, the leaders of the two Koreas failed to provide any new measures on a nuclear standoff that has captivated and terrified millions, and analysts expressed doubts on whether the summit represented a real breakthrough.

Philippine President Rodrigo, who is known for his colorful language, earlier called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a “chubby” and “son of b***h” after Pyongyang stoked global alarm with its nuclear ambitions.

He had also called Kim a “nutcase” playing with “dangerous toys.”

During Manila’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations last year, leaders in the region condemned North Korea’s missile tests. — Ian Nicolas Cigaral with a report from the Associated Press