THAI MFA ISSUES STATEMENT ON DPRK NUCLEAR TEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001290 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV TH KN SUBJECT: THAI MFA ISSUES STATEMENT ON DPRK NUCLEAR TEST REF: BANGKOK 1267 Classified By: POL Counselor George Kent, reason 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a statement May 26 condemning the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) May 25 nuclear test and expressing support for continued Six-Party Talks. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya attended the Asia-Europe (ASEM) ministerial in Hanoi May 25-26 and the ASEAN-EU Ministerial in Phnom Penh May 27-28, in which the missile launch issue figured in discussions. Prime Minister (PM) Abhisit Vejjajiva will travel to Seoul May 20 to attend the upcoming ASEAN-Korean Commemorative Summit to discuss issues of energy security, the economic crisis, and potentially the DPRK nuclear test. ¶2. (C) Comment: Coming on the heels of Thai statements on Burma calling for the release of ASSK, the North Korea statement is consistent with FM Kasit's efforts to have Thailand find its international voice on important regional and global issues. That said, the RTG statement received no coverage in the Thai press, and the test itself garnered scant attention, as domestic political issues and the situation in neighboring Burma monopolized Thai media focus. End Summary and Comment. Thai statement issued -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Thai MFA issued a press release with the RTG's official statement on May 26 expressing grave concern in response to the DPRK's May 25 underground nuclear test. The statement highlights that the DPRK's actions violated UN Security Council resolution 1718 and urged Pyongyang to refrain from further testing while supporting the continuation of the Six-Party Talks. BEGIN TEXT: -Thailand expresses its grave concern regarding the DPRK's underground nuclear test on 25 May 2009. This action not only violates the UNSC resolution 1718, but also undermines the principle of the non-proliferation regime, as well as the continuing efforts by the international community to bring about peace and security on the Korean peninsula. -Thailand urges the DPRK to refrain from conducting any further nuclear test or action that would increase tension in the region and adversely affect international efforts to promote a peaceful and denuclearized Korean peninsula. -Thailand reiterates its full support for the continuation of the Six-Party Talks, as well as other possible regional efforts, to find the solution for sustainable peace and stability in the region. END TEXT. Thai regional diplomacy on the move -------------- ¶4. (SBU) FM Kasit attended the ASEM two-day meeting of Asian and European foreign ministers in Hanoi on May 25-26, in which the issue of security on the Korean peninsula vaulted to the top of the agenda along with Burma and the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK - see reftel). FM Kasit is currently participating in the ASEAN-EU Ministial in Phnom Penh on May 27-28; the Thai MFA expects that the ASEAN-EU meeting will also address the North Korean actions. ¶5. (SBU) PM Abhisit is scheduled to attend the ASEAN-Korean 20th anniversary Commemorative Summit on Jeju Island in South Korea May 30 - June 2. Abhisit has commented to the Thai press that the summit will highlight the development of cooperation between ASEAN and South Korea in tackling global challenges such as the economic crisis, energy security and climate change. Our MFA contacts believe the DPRK nuclear test may appear on the agenda during this summit. JOHN