Two unexpected topics, from Asia's most secretive regimes, led the agenda on Monday. Instead of focusing on how to fight the economic crisis, or global warming, ASEM participants were up in arms over the trial of Burmese pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as the underground nuclear test by North Korea on Monday.

"The two hottest subjects on the agenda are these two problems," said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout, whose country currently holds the European Union presidency.

Delegations from 45 Asian and European countries are in Hanoi, Vietnam, for the ninth annual Asia-Europe Meeting of foreign ministers, or ASEM. Representatives came from the European Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan, South Korea, India and Pakistan.

EU demands Suu Kyi's release

Suu Kyi is scheduled to testify on Tuesday and is expected to deny that she broke the terms of her long-time house arrest after a protester from the US broke into her compound earlier this month. The Nobel Peace Prize winner could face five years in prison for the offense.

The EU repeated its demands for her release during a meeting with the Burmese foreign minister, Kohout said.

The EU would "clearly state its view of the necessity to release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi," EU external relations commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said.

The ASEM meeting had also been expected to make a reference to the North Korean situation as part of its overall closing statement, but the nuclear detonation on Monday, just as the conference opened, sent diplomats scrambling for a more forceful response.

North Korea is not among the members of ASEM, a group that accounts for nearly 60 percent of the world's population and 60 percent of global trade.

Japan seeks statement on North Korean test

The Japanese delegation pressed for ASEM to issue a separate statement on the test. Speaking at the conference, Japanese ministry of foreign affairs spokesman Kazuo Kodama called the nuclear test "a grave threat to peace and stability."

"We believe this nuclear test violates existing UN Security Council resolutions," Kodama said. "We also believe it poses a grave challenge to the (Nuclear Proliferation Treaty) regime."

Pyongyang's delegation met separately with representatives from South Korea and China at the ASEM meeting.

jen/th/dpa/AP/Reuters/AFP

Editor: Chuck Penfold/Susan Houlton