washington u.s. secretary state rex tillerson urge southeast asian foreign minister thursday help cut fund stream north korea nuclear missile program minimize diplomatic relations pyongyang first ministerial meet 10 members association southeast asian nations asean tillerson also call nations compete claim south china sea cease island build militarization talk aim create maritime code conduct way patrick murphy u.s. deputy assistant secretary state east asia say tillerson stress washington security economic commitment region amid doubt raise president donald trump america first platform withdrawal trans pacific partnership tpp trade pact tillerson call asean countries fully implement u.n. sanction pyongyang work develop nuclear-tipped missile capable reach unite state show unite front issue murphy say think do southeast asia tell reporters encourage continue step across asean last week tillerson call countries suspend downgrade diplomatic tie pyongyang say north korea abuse diplomatic privilege help fund arm program tillerson also warn washington would sanction foreign firm people conduct business north korea countries act asean members diplomatic relations north korea five embassies murphy say washington encourage asean state formally cut tie examine north korean presence clearly exceed diplomatic need say countries already also look presence north korean workers another significant revenue earner pyongyang officials asean members speak reporters acknowledge concern north korea also cite concern trade relations unite state philippine act foreign affairs secretary enrique manalo whose country currently chair asean say u.s. call minimize relations pyongyahng really discuss among asean countries probably something look immediate concern try ensure tension peninsula increase ... last thing would like see conflict break due miscalculation manalo say singapore foreign minister vivian balakrishnan say sanction would fully implement north korea presence country already minimal.asked could reduce say say never point time issue stick u.n. security council resolutions balakrishnan whose country sign tpp stress importance u.s.-asean business tie annual trade 100 billion support half million u.s. job 274 billion u.s. investment southeast asia replete economic opportunities big miss say remark highlight grow concern asia trump ditch former president barack obama economic pivot region abandon tpp something analysts say lead countries pull china orbit murphy say tillerson stress asean remain important ... strategic partner show trump commitment attend regional summit philippines vietnam november manalo call meet tillerson trump travel plan encourage sign washington want asean countries crack money launder smuggle involve north korea look restrict legal business work persuade china north korea neighbor major ally increase pressure pyongyang u.s. officials also ask china urge china-friendly asean members laos cambodia u.s. efforts include flurry call trump leaders philippines thailand singapore diplomats say u.s. pressure cause irritation asean include malaysia maintain relations pyongyang spite assassination north korean leader kim jong un estrange half brother kuala lumpur international airport february/ issue south china sea asean adopt cautious approach recently weekend summit avoid reference china build arm artificial islands stance coincide move china asean draft framework negotiate code conduct murphy say tillerson stress process need room space avoid fortify exist claim unite state conduct freedom navigation operations challenge south china sea claim anger china yet trump murphy say operations would continue decline say next might occur tillerson urge asean cut north korea fund minimize tie