This year represents a significant year for the development of Asean-South Korea relations under South Korean President Moon Jae-in's New Southern Policy, especially with the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between the two. Thailand is also the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) chairman this year.
A series of interactions have been planned by both sides for the year, including cultural events, people-to-people exchanges, a media visit programme and an Asean-South Korea Special Summit in Busan on Nov 25-27.
Under the media visit programme, the Bangkok Post was invited to South Korea to report on the country's efforts to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula. The newspaper spoke with Vice Unification Minister Suh Ho in an interview which was conducted through a Korean-English interpreter.
This year Thailand is acting as the Asean chair. What sort of role would you like Thailand to play within Asean in terms of moving towards the denuclearisation of North Korea? How will Asean benefit if the peace process on the Korean Peninsula makes progress?
If we can make North Korea denuclearise, it will bring relief to Asean countries as the de-escalation will eliminate the threat of war and other tensions. Besides this, it will also help make the [regional] economy grow and prosper.
Formerly, Korea, as a single nation, was colonised by Japan. Later, we were divided into two countries. After independence, as you already know, South Korea has developed into an advanced economic country.
It is a miracle that we became a country with economic prosperity. So, we have the policy to show North Korea how we became one of the most advanced countries in Asia.
We would like to deliver the message that we will support you to make your economy grow and prosper too. We are not going to push you to follow our system.
We want to show North Korea how our economic situation is advancing. That is the first thing.
I consider Thailand as one of South Korea's allies in terms of encouraging North Korea to denuclearise. The United States also supports denuclearisation. So if it happens, I believe further economic prosperity will take place in Asia.
Can you explain the North–South Korea agreement and peace process on the Korean Peninsula? What kind of message will you send to the 35th Asean Summit in Thailand and the Asean-South Korea Commemorative Summit in Busan next month?
I would like to give you a brief introduction on what is happening in the Korean Peninsula. North Korean President Kim Jong-un has attended 15 summit meetings including three with South Korea, three with the United States, six with China, one with Russia, one with Singapore and one with Vietnam in different times and places. This shows that North Korea has become one of our allies and can collaborate with us.
As for the summits, I would like to ask North Korean President Kim Jong-un to work closely and interact more with Asean nations. I delivered the same message about denuclearisation to our partners at the summits. We need Asean to help us.
We would like to invite him to the Asean-South Korea summit in Busan in November so that he can deliver his message about denuclearisation there too. I think it will help build up trust with other Asian nations. I also think he can set an example for cooperation not only between South Korea and North Korea but also with other nations in the region.
Have you sent an invitation to him yet?
There are a number of ways that we can deliver our wish to the North Korean leader. We have delivered our message to the media. I hope North Korean President Kim Jong-un will come to the Asean-South Korea summit in Busan.
United States President Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in held a summit (in September) in New York during the United Nations General Assembly to discuss plans to restart US-North Korea talks and they said the negotiations could take place soon. Is it possible that a fresh round of talks could be held in Thailand, in the same vein as those Singapore and Vietnam previously?
I would like to see Thailand be the next meeting venue but I'm not responsible for making the decision.
As I said, I hope the next summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean President takes place in Thailand.
Thailand has beautiful weather and scenery and it would make for an ideal setting. It will be US President Donald Trump who will choose the meeting venue.
During this trip, I visited the Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) and the Joint Security Area, also known as the Truce Village of Panmunjom. Have there been any changes in the DMZ after the North Korea-South Korea Summit and the North Korea-US Summit?
Since the summit meetings were held, I have noticed two changes in particular. Military tensions in the area are easing and both countries have more trust in one another because we haven't had communications like this in a long time. We would like social, economic and cultural exchanges with the ultimate goal being lasting peace.
Is there any possibility the railway connection on the border at Dorasan railway station, which once connected the two nations, will be restored? And what is the next step in terms of reuniting families split across the two countries?
Sections of the railway in the North are not maintained well. So, they need to be repaired to make them operational again.
But yes, there is a possibility that the railway link will open again in the future.
As for reunions, whenever we have meetings, we raise the matter.
Your President Moon Jae-in said in 2017 that he will bring back the Sunshine Policy that was stopped by ex-president Lee Myung-bak in 2010. What is the progress of this promise and how much progress has been made so far?
This current administration is already pursuing the Sunshine Policy (to help North Korea works towards economic prosperity).
However, our engagement policy is clear in that we would like to help North Korea develop but we must help them to denuclearise first. After that, we can start to build trust and help them achieve their economic goals. These issues surrounding what exactly North Korea wants, including economic assistance, have already been brought to the table.
Can I ask you about North Korean defections? In previous years many North Koreans came to Thailand after crossing into Laos via China. Generally, they have turned themselves into Thai police and requested assistance from the embassy here to relocate to South Korea. Do you have a policy regarding North Korean defectors?
First of all, I would like to thank the Thai government for respecting basic human rights, especially those of the North Korean people.
The government has helped to protect the defectors which has allowed us to solve each case. I would like to deliver my appreciation to Thailand for how it has handled these defections.
At the moment, when we receive any news from the Thai government about North Korean defectors, we try to assist them with settling in South Korea. That is our policy.
How many North Korean defectors are there in South Korea?
As far as I know, there are about 34,000 North Korean defectors who left their country and have settled in South Korea.
This report is part of the Korea Press Foundation's Korea-Asean Joint News Coverage Programme. The 'Bangkok Post' worked independently, in collaboration with 'Hankook Ilbo', to produce this report.