U.S. envoy praises Thai role on North Korea problem

The United States special envoy on North Korea praised the steps taken by the government of Thailand in cutting trade and financial ties with the North Korean regime over its development of nuclear weapons as Thai security officials said last week they would try to help bring North Korea to the negotiating table.

“I appreciate very much and am grateful for what Thailand has done in leading ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) … in terms of an overall approach to North Korea,” Joseph Yun the special envoy said after meeting with high-ranking officials from Thailand’s National Security Council and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The administration of President Donald Trump has been attempting to marshal support across Asia and beyond for a coordinated approach to dealing with North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles. The United Nations has imposed a series of economic and trade sanctions on the communist state over its nuclear and missile programs.

Deputy Foreign Minister Veerasak Futrakul emphasized that Thailand has been adhering to the strict obligations of the U.N. Security Council resolutions.

“Thailand has also cooperated with the international community to push (North Korea) to return to the dialogue process to denuclearize and lessen tensions in the Korean peninsula,” he said.

General Wallop Rohsanoh, secretary-general of the National Security Council also said that Thailand is ready to help try and bring North Korea back to the negotiating table.

Thailand has abided by U.N. sanctions on North Korea. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha informed President Donald Trump when they met in Washington D.C. earlier this year that trade with North Korea had dropped to nearly zero.