We appreciated the substantial increase in high-level U.S. engagement in ASEAN-led political-security fora, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), the EAS, and the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum.

WHITEHOUSE: Joint Statement of the 4th ASEAN-U.S. Leaders' Meeting

Then came parleys with the grouping's dialogue partners as well as the security-oriented ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

CNN: HEN THE FOREIGN MINISTERS

And on July 23, he will join the 21-member ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on security, which includes the U.S., Russia, China, Japan and the European Union.

CNN: TEST OF WILLS

That's what happened when Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun flew in to attend a July 27 meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the seven-year-old security panel in which Pyongyang would participate for the first time.

CNN: Relegated to the Sidelines?