North Korean FM to visit Thailand

BANGKOK, August 8 (TNA) - North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong will arrive in Bangkok on Monday (Aug 10) to strengthen bilateral relations with Thailand as the two countries celebrate 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn. Gen Tanasak said it is not strange that the North Korean foreign minister is to pay a visit to Thailand because the two countries have enjoyed a warm relations while both countries have also established diplomatic relations exactly 40 years this year. He said his deputy Don Pramudwinai recently traveled to North Korea and presented a gift to that country leader Kim Jong-un, celebrating the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Touching on a recent approval given by the US Senate for Glyn Townsend Davies to become new US ambassador to Thailand, Gen Tanasak said US President Barack Obama will have to sign his approval and it is expected that it would take about one month before Mr Davies would perform his duty as ambassador to Thailand. Gen Tanasak said the Thai government would not have to do anything because the US and Thailand have a long history of warm relations. (TNA)