Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate. 蜜桃工作室 FILE PHOTO
A progressive lawmaker blasted on Saturday the United States for demanding the exclusion of North Korea in Asia鈥檚 biggest security forum.
Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate said the US is 鈥渙nce again dictating its 鈥渉egemonic鈥� agenda in the Asia region鈥� by calling for the suspension of North Korea from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF).
鈥淭he US is at it again, trying to dictate international bodies to do its imperialist bidding of infringing on other country鈥檚 sovereignty,鈥� Zarate said.
Acting Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton earlier called for North Korea鈥檚 鈥渄iplomatic isolation鈥� as it has violated ARF鈥檚 鈥渃onflict-prevention means鈥� following its recent intercontinental ballistic missile test.
READ: US wants North Korea barred from Asean meet
President Rodrigo Duterte also criticized North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for conducting such tests despite condemnation from the international community.
鈥淭hat chubby face that looks kind. That son of a bitch. If he commits a mistake, the Far East will become an arid land. It must be stopped, this nuclear war,鈥� Duterte said.
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Zarate urged Duterte to ignore US鈥� demand and instead pursue an independent foreign policy.
鈥淎s things stand, North Korea鈥檚 actions are a direct result of US saber-rattling and war mongering in the Korean peninsula,鈥� Zarate said. IDL