Senior US official urges Thailand to take action on North Korea

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson yesterday pressed Thai leaders for more action on North Korea during the highest level visit to Thailand by a US official since a military coup in 2014 soured relations with the United States.

Tillerson’s top priority has been urging Southeast Asian countries to do more to cut funding streams for North Korea.

The US believed North Korean front companies were active in Thailand and was trying to encourage the Thais to shut them down, assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton said aboard Tillerson’s plane.

The companies were using Bangkok as a regional hub and change their names frequently, she said.

Before meeting Tillerson, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thailand would support a UN resolution on new sanctions on Pyongyang over its missile tests.

The US was encouraging Thailand to take as many North Korean refugees as it could handle, Thornton said.

It was reported last week that the number of North Koreans slipping illegally into Thailand had surged in recent months.

Thailand’s own politics and human rights record were also in focus, as Washington strengthens relations with its oldest ally in the region after they were downgraded following the coup.

“We want Thailand to emerge as a strengthened democracy that respects and guarantees human rights and fundamental freedoms at home and plays a leading role in advancing regional security and prosperity,” a US embassy spokesman said.

Tillerson offered no specific message on human rights when he spoke to the American community at the ambassador’s residence and highlighted the 200-year-old relationship.

“We want to continue to grow that relationship, even in its ups and downs,” he said.

Tillerson met Thailand’s foreign minister, Don Pramudwinai, before junta chief Prayuth. Don also emphasised support for the UN resolution on North Korea.

Following his meeting with Tillerson, Don said in Bangkok that trade between Thailand and North Korea had dropped by as much as 94% over the past year.

Human rights groups have voiced concern about the re-establishment of normal relations while Thailand’s junta continues to crack down on critics.

“It would be a practical mistake for Tillerson to not condition positive diplomatic relations on improvements in the protection of human rights,” Matthew Smith, of the Fortify Rights group, said.

Thailand’s military seized power in May 2014 after months of street protests with a promise to eventually restore democracy, but elections will not happen before next year and a new constitution retains a powerful political say for the army.

Tillerson’s visit follows his attendance at a regional security forum in Manila at the weekend.