THAILAND: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON SUSPENSION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003590 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/BCLTV, AND EAP/K. HQ USPACOM FOR FPA HUSO E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2015 TAGS: PREL KN KS TH DPRK SUBJECT: THAILAND: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON SUSPENSION OF REMAINS RECOVERY PROGRAM IN NORTH KOREA REF: STATE 97063 Classified By: DCM Alexander A. Arvizu. Reason: 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On May 27, PolCouns conveyed reftel para 8 talking points to Chakarin Chayabongse, Deputy Director General, East Asian Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Chakarin expressed appreciation for the official notification of suspension of the U.S. remains recovery program in North Korea, and said he would review the points and convey them to his superiors, including Foreign Minister Kantathi Supahamongkhon. He said that he was aware of the suspension from Washington briefings and agreed to a follow up meeting on May 31. ¶2. (C) On May 31, Poloffs met at MFA with DDG Chakarin, Korean Affairs Director Sompong Tangsopa and other MFA officials from the East Asia and Americas Departments. During an extended discussion on North Korea (septel), Chakarin noted that Thailand is interested in contributing to stability in the region and intended to respond to North Korean overtures for closer ties in 2005, the 30th anniversary year of Thai-North Korean relations. He reported that the North Koreans had successfully pursued a bilateral meeting on the margins of the April 22-23 Asia-Africa Summit in Indonesia between Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Kim Yong Nam, President of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly Presidium. FM Kantathi is scheduled to visit North Korea July 8-12. BOYCE