Indonesia Ready To Mediate Between North, South Korea: Spokeperson

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesia is always ready to act as a mediator between North and South Korea and help them reconcile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesperson, Arrmanatha Nasir, has said.

 "Our efforts (towards that end) have been more keen than most other countries' and all this time, Indonesia has always been ready to help bring about conciliation between the two Koreas," Nasir stated at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office here on Wednesday.

The statement was in response to an opinion expressed by South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia, Tae-Young Cho, who asked Indonesia to be more firm and active to stop the test launch of North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missiles.

North Korea had recently announced it will hold the next trial in May 2016, thus leading to further tension in the Korean Peninsula.

Nasir said Indonesia had asked North Korea to restrain itself from any provocative actions that might cause tensions in the region.

"At every chance we have in our meetings, we certainly remind (North Korea of this)," he noted.

 At the same time, Indonesia also continues to enhance bilateral relations with both South Korea and North Korea in a bid to maintain good relations with the two countries.

"Indonesia has been making such efforts more than other countries," Nasir said.

 Separately interviewed during the Kimchi Festival at the South Korean Embassy in Jakarta, Ambassador Tae-Young Cho hoped that Indonesia, which enjoys good relations with North Korea, could influence it to stop nuclear tests.

Ambassador Cho also called on the international community to unite to push North Korea to listen it and usher peace in the Korean Peninsula. (WDY)