On Friday, Cambodia called on its long-time diplomatic ally North Korea to refrain from launching any more nuclear missiles or risk destabilising regional peace, government officials said yesterday.

At a meeting between Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and his Japanese counterpart’s vice minister, Joe Nakano, the two countries urged North Korea to exercise the “utmost restraint” in nuclear testing, Foreign Affairs spokesman Koy Kuong said yesterday.

“They are concerned about the security and stability of the Korean Peninsula, because it affects the whole region,” Koy Kuong said.

North Korea and Cambodia have shared close ties since the reign of now-King Father Norodom Sihanouk, for whom the late Kim Il-sung constructed a palatial residence.

Japan, meanwhile, is one of Cambodia’s biggest donors and has committed US$7.4 billion in aid to Mekong countries over the next three years.

To contact the reporters on this story: Bridget Di Certo at [email protected]

Cheang Sokha at [email protected]