The annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum has concluded in Singapore, with the country's foreign minister praising it as "the smoothest, least contentious, and most constructive" meeting by far. 

Vivian Balakrishnan said ASEAN is committed to continuing to provide a safe space for brutally frank discussions.

During a press conference Saturday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo emphasized that diplomatic pressure on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is vital to the achievement of a completely denuclearized Korean Peninsula.  

"I want to remind every nation that has supported these resolutions that this is a serious issue and something that we will discuss with Moscow," Pompeo said. "We expect the Russians and all countries to abide by UN Security Council resolutions and enforce sanctions on North Korea (DPRK). Any violation that detracts from the world's goal of finally fully denuclearizing North Korea (DPRK) would be something that American would take very seriously." 

The DPRK's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho maintained Pyongyang's commitment to peace but said that the insistence by the US of economic sanctions is counterproductive to building confidence between the two nations.

"We have initiated goodwill measures of, inter alia, a moratorium on nuclear tests and rocket launch tests and dismantling of the nuclear test ground," Ri said, adding that "simultaneous actions and phased steps" should be made by both sides.

Pompeo later said on Twitter that he and Ri met briefly and "had a quick, polite exchange."

The US official also said that a letter from President Donald Trump was also delivered in response to DPRK leader Kim Jong Un's earlier letter.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi was clearly optimistic, saying visible development on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula has been made in keeping to the direction that China is committed to.  

"The Korean nuclear issue has been brought back to the track of seeking peaceful settlements through dialogues and consultations. All parties concerned, including the United States and the DPRK, have arrived at an important consensus that there needs to be parallel progress on both tracks of achieving denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, and establishing a peace mechanism there," Wang said.

ASEAN was established in 1967 not only to counter external threats with a united voice but also to develop a system for dispute settlements. Meetings like the ASEAN Regional Forum provide a platform for regional and international players to resolve conflicts with quiet diplomacy.