ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh said on Tuesday that Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have expressed their deep concerns over the effect on regional peace and stability caused by the recent underground nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People' s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

ASEAN encourages the DPRK to comply fully with its obligations to all relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions, namely 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009) and 2087 (2013), and to its commitments under the 19 September 2005 Joint Statement of the six- party talks, he said in a statement sent by ASEAN Secretariat to Xinhua.

ASEAN reaffirmed its full support for all efforts to bring about the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner and the early resumption of the six-party talks.

ASEAN furthermore emphasizes the importance of dialogue aimed at promoting mutual understanding and confidence among all parties concerned with ensuring peace, security and stability on the Korean Peninsula.