By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young met with Thai Ambassador to South Korea Tanee Sangrat on Nov. 10 to discuss cooperation between South Korea and Thailand regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula and policies toward North Korea and unification.

Minister Chung highly praised the political and diplomatic achievements between Korea and Thailand during the recent APEC summit and requested further strengthening of strategic communication between the two countries for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula and regional peace and prosperity.

He urged Thailand, which holds the Korea-ASEAN Dialogue Coordinator role, to play a more active part in promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region through mechanisms like the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Chung specifically requested Thailand to consider appointing a special envoy for the Korean Peninsula, alongside the European Union (EU), to support ASEAN's positive role in achieving peaceful coexistence on the peninsula.

Ambassador Sangrat stated that Thailand would play a constructive role for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and expressed Thailand's position to actively cooperate with and support the South Korean government's ‘END Policy’ for denuclearization and peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula.

Both sides agreed to continue close communication and cooperation for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.