(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead with latest; ADDS more details in paras 2-4, 12-16)

By Oh Seok-min

MANILA, July 23 (Yonhap) -- North Korea skipped a major regional security forum hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the second consecutive year amid Pyongyang's growing focus on ties with Russia and China.

The annual ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) has long drawn attention as the only multilateral security forum in which both Koreas participate. It also brings together major powers, including the United States, China, Japan and Russia.

But Pyongyang did not attend last year's forum for the first time since joining the ARF in 2000 and remained absent again this year.

North Korea had previously participated regularly, either through its foreign minister or ambassadors based in Southeast Asia.

The absence is seen as reflecting Pyongyang's growing preference for bilateral diplomacy with Russia and China over multilateral engagements.

"North Korea appears to see diminishing strategic value in regional forums that once served as rare venues for contact with the U.S. and its allies, as it appears to be securing economic and strategic interests through its deepening ties with China and Russia," another source said.

"The fact that Washington has been preoccupied with the conflict in the Middle East and other issues may also have reduced the North's incentive to attend the forum," he added.

Pyongyang and Moscow have deepened their ties since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in 2024. North Korea has deployed troops and provided conventional weapons to Russia to support Moscow's war with Ukraine.

Last week, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met with Putin and her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow and agreed to further enhance bilateral cooperation.

Pyongyang has also recently bolstered high-level exchanges with Beijing on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of their friendship treaty.

At the forum, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun called on North Korea to respond to Seoul's offers for dialogue and join efforts to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, according to the foreign ministry.

Many participants expressed concerns over Pyongyang's continued development of nuclear weapons and missiles, while stressing the need for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and full compliance with relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, it added.

Launched in 1994, the ARF is the largest security forum in the Asia-Pacific region. It brings together the 11 ASEAN member states and their 16 partners to discuss regional security issues and confidence-building measures.

During his two-day visit to Manila for a series of ASEAN-related meetings, Cho held a trilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, as well as pull-aside bilateral talks with Rubio and Motegi, to discuss North Korea, regional security and broader areas of cooperation.

Cho did not hold a separate meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Seoul and Beijing, however, are coordinating the timing of Wang's planned visit to Seoul, which could take place as early as next month.

Separately, no engagement took place between Cho and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, though the two were seated next to each other during the ARF meeting, sources said.

graceoh@yna.co.kr

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