MANILA (AP) - Focused on North Korea and terrorism, Asian foreign ministers wrapped up their annual security summit Thursday, claiming they made progress in building trust and bridging the gaps between their countries.
The ministers got to meet North Korea's new foreign minister, who talked on the sidelines with his South Korean counterpart as the rest of the attendees discussed how to ensure that the North doesn't backslide in its commitment to dismantle its worrisome nuclear weapons program after shutting down its Yongbyon reactor.
They crafted strategy as working groups tackle a variety of issues before the next round of six-party nuclear talks involving the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia, which U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill said he hopes may start in early September.
North Korea's development of nuclear weapons has cast a pall over the region, amid fears it could spark an arms race or that atomic bombs could end up in the hands of terrorists.