ASEAN leaders Thursday reaffirmed their full support for all efforts to bring about the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the early resumption of the Six-party Talks.

In the Chairman's statement of the 22nd ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN leaders expressed concerns over the recent developments in the Korean Peninsula.

"We encouraged the Democratic people's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to comply fully with its obligations under all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and to its commitments under the 19 September 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-party Talks," said the statement.

The ASEAN leaders emphasized 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.

Meanwhile, the ASEAN leaders reaffirmed, in the statement, their commitment to preserving South Asia as a nuclear weapon-free zone and free of all other weapons of mass destruction. "We looked forward to the signing of the Protocol to the Treaty on Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-free Zone (SEANWFZ) and its related documents without reservations as early as possible," said the statement.

ASEAN was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.