Thailand’s foreign minister said his North Korean counterpart invited Thai firms to speculate in his country because Thais are trustworthy and don’t interfere in matters that don’t concern them.
Thai Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn said visiting North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong told him at a gathering that Thai firms are invited to speculate in North Korea’s special economic zone, which might be opened soon, and that they may receive incentives and privileges . Ri didn’t speak to the media.
A subsidiary of Thai telecommunications company Loxley has been a major investor in North Korea for over a decade and has helped it modernize its communications infrastructure.
Tanasak said Ri told him they wanted Thai investors because “Thai individuals are good, trustworthy people” and don’t become involved in matters that don’t concern them. This suggests that military-ruled Thailand won’t criticize North Korea’s policies or its human rights record, which is usually considered by human rights activists to be among the many worst on the earth.
“They are not open to inviting every country, but they will be happy to invite us,” Tanasak said.
An announcement issued by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the 2 sides “discussed bilateral cooperation issues, including the exchange of visits in any respect levels, cultural exchanges and technical cooperation, particularly problems with interest to (North Korea), namely food security, agriculture and public health, ICT and tourism.”
It said bilateral trade amounted to US$126.33 million in 2014, with Thai exports to North Korea consisting of rubber, chemicals and plastics, and Thai imports mainly consisting of chemicals, iron and steel and electrical machinery.
The statement said Ri visited one in every of Thailand’s many industrial centers to find out how it was run and was also briefed on agribusiness at Thai food production and distribution giant Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Co Ltd.
Tanasak told reporters that additionally they discussed the case of a Thai woman who was reportedly abducted and brought to North Korea by secret agents in 1978, and that Ri agreed that his government would look into the case. North Korea has admitted kidnapping 13 Japanese residents within the Seventies and Nineteen Eighties to coach spies in Japanese language and culture, and Japan believes there might have been many more kidnappings.
Tanasak said the probabilities of solving the Thai woman’s disappearance are slim since the incident happened so way back.
