Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon visited the far South on Friday morning to follow up on regional security issues and lay down policy.
He was accompanied by Deputy Defence Minister and army chief Gen Udomdej Sitabutr.
The delegation arrived at the southern office of the Internal Security Operations Command at Sirindhorn Camp in Khao Toom sub-district of Yarang district, Pattani, about 9.45am. New 4th Army chief Lt Gen Prakan Cholayuth greeted them.
Later Gen Prawit and Gen Udomdej were scheduled to visit people in Muang Yala district of Yala province.
Three southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat and part of Songkhla province have been plagued by insurgent violence for the past decade and more than 4,000 people have been killed.
Gen Prawit said that he would proceed with the southern solutions initiated by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha when he was army chief.
Gen Prawit also said the government would be careful in selecting the head of a peace negotiation team to talk with representatives of southern insurgency movements.
It was earlier report that the Barisan Revolusi Nasional, which attended past peace talks negotiations, was opposed to Gen Akanit Muensawat, who was earlier tipped to lead the government team.
Gen Akanit was Gen Prayut's classmate at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School. He is a member of the National Legislative Assembly and adviser to the National Security Council.