On Monday, South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong held a phone conversation with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand, Don Pramudwinai, wherein the ministers discussed ways to strengthen their countries’ bilateral relations and exchanged views on various regional issues.
During the meeting, both leaders acknowledged the need to “institutionalise cooperation” in areas of public health and disease control, including combatting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the diplomats agreed to launch a “two plus two” dialogue of their foreign and health ministers to take forward cooperation in health security and related fields “at an appropriate time”, Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday. Additionally, the ministers agreed to work towards resuming high-level face-to-face diplomacy (depending on the COVID-19 pandemic situation), including a vice-ministerial level Policy Consultation Meeting.
The officials also congratulated each other on the 10th anniversary of the Republic of Korea (ROK)-Mekong cooperation and lauded the progress made so far. Further, the diplomats agreed to move forward with preparations to celebrate the 2021 ROK-Mekong Exchange Year, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
The leaders then discussed the latest events in Myanmar and expressed “deep concern over the loss of numerous civilian lives,” while also reaffirming their support “for the constructive role of ASEAN in resolving the current situation.” However, ASEAN follows a longstanding policy of non-interference in member countries’ internal affairs. In fact, Thailand has been accused of turning away thousands of refugees that fled from Myanmar, where the death toll has crossed well over 500 since the military coup on February 1. South Korea, on the other hand, has suspended its defence exchanges and military exports to Myanmar and said that it would also “limit exports of other strategic items, reconsider development aid and grant humanitarian exemptions for Myanmar nationals to allow them to stay in South Korea until the situation improves.”
Lastly, Minister Chung explained the Korean government’s efforts to achieve “complete denuclearisation” and establish “permanent peace” on the Korean Peninsula. In response, Don reaffirmed the Thai government’s “firm support for the Korean Peninsula Peace Process”. Diplomatic relations between Bangkok and Pyongyang have largely stayed out of the limelight since their establishment in May 1975. However, after a failed attempt by the North Korean Embassy in Bangkok to kidnap one of its staff members who planned to defect, bilateral ties nosedived. Since then, Bangkok has refused Pyongyang’s requests to send additional diplomats to its mission in Thailand.
South Korea and Thailand Discuss Trade, Diplomacy, COVID-19, Myanmar, and North Korea
The foreign ministers of South Korea and Thailand discussed the ongoing pandemic, the crisis in Myanmar, and the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
April 7, 2021
SOURCE: REUTERS