Southeast Asian ministers urge North Korea to rein in weapons programmes

REFILE - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION North Korean leader Kim Jong Un provides guidance with Ri Hong Sop (3rd L) and Hong Sung Mu (L) on a nuclear weapons program in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang September 3, 2017. KCNA via REUTERS

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Philippines (Reuters) - Southeast Asian defence ministers on Monday expressed "grave concern" over North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes and urged the reclusive country to meet its international obligations and resume communications.

North Korea is working to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the U.S. mainland and has ignored all calls, even from its lone major ally, China, to rein in its weapons programmes which it conducts in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions.