UN General Assembly
2017

The Philippines, on its own and as this year’s Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has expressed its grave concern over the growing tensions on the Korean peninsula because of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s missile test launches and detonations. The Philippines joins the call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to put a stop to its provocations, which bring us closer to an unimaginable scenario — a war to end all wars because no one will be left to fight new ones. Let me end where I began, and call again for patience, listening and cooperation, focused always on the well-being of, as stated in the Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations, “We, the peoples of the United Nations”. Let us listen to each other as we all are the people of the United Nations. Our faith and destiny as human beings on this planet are intertwined.