Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung quietly flew to Pattani province on an air force aircraft on Thursday, in his first trip to the South.
He was accompanied by Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, the national police chief.
The plane with Mr Chalerm and his entourage departed from Wing 6 military air terminal at Don Mueang about noon and arrived at Bo Thong airfield in Pattani province about 1.30pm.
The deputy prime minister is scheduled to visit Wat Suwannakorn in tambon Bo Thong in Nong Chik district to pay respect to the bodies of Lt Roengrit Phothisa and Chief Warrant Officer Sanchai Sophawang, who were killed by a bomb at the Halal food centre at Ban Thasu in tambon Nam Bo in Pattani's Panare district.
Mr Chalerm will then proceed to Sirindhorn camp in Pattani province for a situation briefing, before visiting the Southern Police Operations Centre in Yala.
He is due to stay overnight at an undisclosed location, according to reports.
Mr Chalerm has previously been criticised heavily by the opposition and commentators for never having visited the insurgency-hit far South, despite having been assigned to head a centre for the implementation of policies for tackling problems in the three southern border provinces.