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MANILA: Foreign ministers from across the Asia-Pacific have made a joint appeal for the release of 21 remaining South Koreans being held hostage in Afghanistan.
The ministers at this year's ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) made the appeal for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages after seeing two other South Koreans murdered by the Taliban.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said: "We share the grief and sorrow of the families and friends of the murder victims and the concern and heartache of the loved ones of the remaining hostages. We express hope that the hostages and their families will find the strength to face this ordeal, while at the same time expressing the hope that they will soon be reunited."
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer praised anti-terrorism efforts in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
But he pointed out that there is still a lot of work to be done.
"They have been successful in breaking up terrorist networks and terrorist training but the issue is still there and there's still a lot of work to do," he said.
On another issue, North Korea came in for widespread praise for its recent steps to disable its nuclear facilities.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia and the Pacific, Christopher Hill, met North Korea's Foreign Minister Pak Ui-Chun on the sidelines of the ARF meeting.
Mr Pak demanded his country be dropped from Washington's list of states that sponsor terrorism.
Foreign ministers at the ARF meeting also agreed to form a quick-reaction group, called "Friends of the Chair", to better respond to outbreaks of war and political crises in the region.
It is a crucial step in deflecting criticism that the forum is an annual talk-shop incapable of actively dealing with threats and conflicts. - CNA/ir
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