Mr. President,

1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and my own country, the Philippines.

2. We welcome Thailand’s upcoming ratification of the CTBT later this month. All of ASEAN Member States’ ratification of the CTBT solidifies and bolsters our strong commitment to the international norm against nuclear testing, as well as our steadfast support for the CTBT.

3. ASEAN denounces the conduct of nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions, which are contrary to and go against international efforts and norms against nuclear testing, non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. 

4. We reiterate our recognition of the humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons, which is the basis of our efforts towards the elimination of nuclear weapons.

5. Bearing in mind the significance of the CTBT, we join others in urging the Annex 2 States to sign and ratify the Treaty as soon as possible to realize its entry into force.

6. We reiterate our commitment to preserve our region as a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and free of all other weapons of mass destruction as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ Treaty). Under the Bangkok Treaty, as specified under Article 3, each State Party undertakes not to test or use nuclear weapons anywhere. They also undertakes not to allow, anywhere inside its territory, the testing or use of nuclear weapons.

7. Along with the SEANWFZ Treaty, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons provides that each State Party undertakes never under any circumstances to develop, test, produce, manufacture, otherwise acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

8. ASEAN welcomes the Inter-Korean Summits held on 27 April 2018 and 26 May 2018, as well as the summit between the US and the DPRK in Singapore on 12 June 2018. We also welcome the Panmunjom Declaration, as well as the Joint Statement signed between the US and the DPRK. We urge all concerned parties to continue working towards the realization of lasting peace and stability on a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.

9. We also welcome the DPRK’s stated commitment to complete denuclearization and its pledge to refrain from further nuclear and missile tests during this period. We reiterate our support for all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and international efforts to bring about the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, which will contribute to peace and stability in the region.

10. I thank you, Mr. President.