North Korea will sign a non-aggression treaty with Southeast Asian nations later this month to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes, Singapore's foreign ministry said on Monday. ASEAN believes that North Korea's accession to the treaty will lead to improved relations, Singapore's foreign ministry said in a statement. The pact is due to be signed after an ASEAN Regional Forum in Singapore on July 24. The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation was first signed in Indonesia in 1976 by the then member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Aside from the 10 ASEAN countries, the treaty has been signed by China, Russia, France and New Zealand. ASEAN includes Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines and Vietnam.
