Thailand ready to host US-N Korea summit if asked to do so: Prayut
Thailand would be ready to play host to the summit between the leaders of the United States and North Korea, although it would not likely volunteer itself to do so, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday.
Speaking during his weekly press briefing, Prayut cited the Kingdom’s “being tourist-friendly and ranking top in the world’s tourism” for its readiness to provide the venue for such a major meeting.
Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai added that while Thailand had the potential to provide assistance, the topic being the Korean peninsula was unlikely to allow it to play the role of negotiator among the parties.
Speculation about Thailand playing a role came as foreign news agencies last week estimated Bangkok to be one of nine potential locations to host the historic summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un to settle the long-standing conflict over the peninsula and regional nuclear proliferation.
“The US Embassy in Thailand is one of its largest. Bangkok is also one of the few countries in Asia to host a North Korean embassy,” one news report said, citing reasons for Thailand’s capital being on the list.
The US Embassy in Bangkok declined to comment on the matter when contacted by The Nation.
So far, however, it is nothing more than media speculation, with none of the involved parties yet to hint on the meeting place for the much-anticipated summit.
Meanwhile, Deputy PM and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan on Monday met with US Secretary of Defense James Mattis, as per the latter’s invitation to the Thai general to visit him in the US.
“Thailand expressed support for the US in building maritime domain awareness and maritime security cooperation within the Asean framework for mutual regional peace,” Defence Ministry spokesperson Maj-General Kongcheep Tantrawanich said on Tuesday.
While Prawit’s visit is officially cited as being to strengthen partnership dialogue as part of this year’s bicentennial celebration of relations between Thailand and the US, Washington has been campaigning among Indo-Pacific countries on a security agenda, particularly regarding the Korean peninsula and the South China Sea.