On Wednesday, Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young expressed his expectation for Thailand and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to play a crucial role in encouraging North Korea’s engagement with the international community.
Speaking at an event commemorating Thailand’s National Day at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, Minister Chung emphasized Thailand’s importance as the dialogue coordinator for Korea-ASEAN relations, calling it a key partner in strengthening cooperation between South Korea and ASEAN.
Minister Chung highlighted the longstanding alliance between South Korea and Thailand, noting that Thailand sent 12,000 troops to fight alongside South Korea during the Korean War. He pointed out that the two nations have maintained diplomatic ties for 67 years, fostering collaboration in various sectors including trade, defense industry, culture, and tourism. The minister also emphasized the robust people-to-people exchanges, with over 2 million citizens from both countries visiting each other in the previous year alone.
Furthermore, Minister Chung referenced the current administration’s Peaceful Coexistence on the Korean Peninsula initiative. He appealed for continued support and cooperation towards peace on the peninsula, drawing on the deep-rooted history of exchanges and friendship between the two nations.