1. First Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam visited Thailand on March 7 and held the second Republic of Korea-Thailand policy consultation with Permanent Secretary Apichart Chinwanno of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the meeting, the Vice Minister asked for the Thai government’s support for the expansion of Korean companies’ presence in Thai projects to build information technology (IT) infrastructure. The two sides also discussed ways to work together in pressuring North Korea, including implementing the new UN Security Council sanctions resolution on North Korea.

2. The two ranking diplomats affirmed that the ROK and Thailand have been maintaining close cooperative ties across the board, including political affairs, such as through high-level exchanges; trade and investment; and cultural and people-to-people exchanges, as well as on such multilateral stages as ASEAN and the UN. They also affirmed the great potential for future cooperation.

3. Vice Minister Lim, bringing renewed attention to the Thai government’s request for Korean companies’ participation in the Thai railway project, asked that the Thai government pay keen attention to and render support to Korean companies, which are interested in Thailand’s infrastructure-building projects, including the integrated water management project, so that they can take part in not only the railway project but also other such projects.

° In response, Permanent Secretary Apichart, expressing welcome for the ROK’s investment in Thailand, requested that the ROK take keen interest in investing in not only the infrastructure sector but also such promising fields as bio-technology and the construction of a medical hub, which the Thai government is working on.

4. Vice Minister Lim explained the ROK government’s position on North Korea’s repeated provocations, including its fourth nuclear test and launch of a long-range missile, as well as UN Security Council Resolution 2270 adopted on March 2 and efforts of individual countries to impose bilateral sanctions on North Korea in response to those provocations. He asked for the Thai government’s cooperation in thoroughly implementing the unprecedentedly strong and effective Security Council resolution and thereby completely preventing North Korea from obtaining funds and technology for the development of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).

° In response, Permanent Secretary Apichart, sharing the view on the need for efforts of the international community to pressure North Korea, stated that the Thai government will take an active part in the implementation of the UN Security Council sanctions resolution on North Korea.

5. The ROK-Thailand policy consultation on March 7 is seen to have served as an opportunity to review the key bilateral issues; to discuss specific ways to work together to move substantially forward the bilateral strategic partnership forged in 2012; and to step up cooperation between the ROK and Thailand and between the ROK and ASEAN to pressure North Korea in response to North Korea’s recent provocations.


* unofficial translation