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