President Bongbong Marcos on 13 November backed South Korea's efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, saying the Philippines is willing to help achieve the objective.

"This is of great concern and we are fully supportive of the Republic of Korea in all your efforts to denuclearize North Korea," Marcos said at a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Sokha Hotel amid the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

"The Philippines is one with you on that and we will do what we can to assist South Korea in that effort," said Marcos.

He earlier condemned North Korea's recent missile launches, including a suspected failed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

In a statement, the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department denounced the move by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), saying it would "further increase tension and undermine peace and stability in an already volatile region. The Philippines calls on all parties to exercise utmost restraint.

"It also calls on the DPRK to comply with its obligations under the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and to commit to the process of constructive and peaceful dialogue with the Republic of Korea."

In a separate statement, the Philippine Office of the Press Secretary said Marcos and Yoon mutually agreed to strengthen bilateral relations between the Philippines and South Korea "to a new level that will enhance security, infrastructure, energy, as well as people-to-people exchanges."