'Peace' out Utilize experience of all who have dealt with NK officials for strong intelligence The Foreign Ministry is set to downsize and revamp an office in charge of diplomacy related to North Korean nuclear issues amid a prolonged stalemate in dialogue with Pyongyang. The Office of Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, led by a vice ministerial level official, was established 18 years ago in a whirlwind of nuclear diplomacy with the North through six-party talks among the two Koreas, the US, China, Russia and Japan. It was set up as a temporary agency, but was made a permanent one in 2011 to deal with Pyongyang's growing nuclear arsenal. The six-party talks have not resumed since the last round of meetings in 2007, and the head of the office has since worked on diplomacy with the US, China and Japan over North Korean nuclear issues. The office, consisting of a North Korean Nuclear Affairs Bureau and a Korean Peninsula Peace Regime Bureau, with four divisions under them, will be replaced by wha t is tentatively named the Office of Strategy and Intelligence, comprising three divisions under a single bureau, and led by a director-general. The new Office will focus on building diplomatic strategies and analyzing information. With the envisioned changes, included in the ministry's 2024 policy report to the presidential office made on Thursday, the word "peace" will be removed from the ministry's organizational chart. There has been no dialogue over the North's nuclear issue since the second US-North Korea summit talks in Hanoi in February 2019 faltered and the following working-level talks broke off in October that year. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has since escalated threats and increased the frequency of missile tests. The Unification Ministry also went through similar reorganization last year, greatly downsizing divisions overseeing the South's exchanges and cooperation with the North, and reinforcing analysis of developments in the North and intelligence gathering. With Kim Jong-un having def ined inter-Korean relations as that of two enemy states, and vowing to delete from its constitution the concept that South Koreans and North Koreans are one people, there is nothing much of a dialogue that Seoul can formally seek. The Seoul government is considering revising the National Community Unification Formula, or the South's idea of unification unveiled 30 years ago in August 1994 under late President Kim Young-sam, to reflect the values of liberal democracy as well as the North Korean nuclear issue and human rights violations. The Seoul government is also crafting a new plan for unification with the North. It is engraved in South Korea's Constitution that the country shall seek unification, and formulate and carry out a policy of peaceful unification based on the principles of freedom and democracy. While it should continue to seek the ultimate goal of unification, the South, by its Constitution, cannot compromise on its principles of freedom and democracy in the process. Countless pieces of evid ence and testimony collected by the international community have shown that Pyongyang has resorted to human rights violations to keep the regime from collapsing. Turning a blind eye to the regime's crimes against humanity runs against the core of the Republic of Korea. Also, despite 10 years of the South's Sunshine Policy, the North never stopped expanding its nuclear arsenal. Official recognition as a nuclear state like India or Pakistan has been the unwavering goal of the Kim regime, which announced in 2003 that it would no longer be bound by the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. There is little reason to maintain the size of divisions that have practically no work, but behind-the-scenes efforts must go on to bring Pyongyang back to negotiations for denuclearization and easing of tensions on the Korean Peninsula. With the world having entered what some call a new Cold War era, and Pyongyang expanding defense ties with Moscow, rigorous strategizing based on strong intelligence has become more important tha n ever. In that process, the Seoul government should utilize the experience and knowledge of all those who have met or dealt with key members of the North Korean regime, who normally remain in power as long as they are alive. Like in everything else, a pragmatic approach is required in dealing with the North. Source: Yonhap News Agency France, March 11 - The Prime Minister attended lunchtime discussions with the President of France. Both sides are ready to strengthen all-round relations. Today (11 March 2024) at 11.15 a.m. (local Paris time) at the French Presidential Palace, Palais de l'Elysée, Mr. Settha Thavisin, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. Met with Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, Mr. Chai Watcharong, Spokesman of the Prime Minister's Office. Summary of important points as follows: The Prime Minister said France was his first official visit to a European country. Ready to wish France success in hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics. Hope France will support and facilitate the establishment of training facilities for Thai athletes, including Thai House, where Thailand plans to showcase Thai boxing, fashion and Thai food. Opportunity The Prime Minister also invited the President of France to pay an official visit to Thailand. To celebrate the 340th anniversary of our relations and the 170th anniversary of d iplomatic relations in 2026. The Prime Minister was aware of France's plan to revive France Relance, which aims to be the first country in Europe to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Thailand also has a holistic plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. net zero by 2025 as well, along with asking France and the European Union to consider organizing 'Green lane' for environmentally friendly products As a preparation measure while negotiating the Thai-EU FTA. Still ongoing, the Prime Minister also invited French automotive parts manufacturers, especially EVs and batteries, as well as the French private sector. Come invest in Thailand To support Thailand's green transformation efforts Trade and investment Both sides welcomed the large number of large Thai companies investing in France. The Prime Minister hopes that France will facilitate Thai investment in the future. Including facilitating visas for Thai businessmen. and is ready to invite France to invest in large-scale regional projects, the Landbridge project, and in accordance with the vision of "IGNITE THAILAND" that the Prime Minister has announced, aiming for Thailand to be a regional leader. Raise the country to become a world-class industrial center in 8 sectors, including tourism. health and medicine Agriculture and food, aviation, logistics, future automotive production. digital economy and finance, with the Prime Minister meeting and inviting leading French private companies in many sectors Therefore hope to receive support from President of France as well In the areas of soft power and fashion, Thailand hopes that both sides will build on the success of the cooperation between the Thai Vocational Education Institute and the Duperré School of Applied Arts in exchanging teachers and students. To develop projects in fashion design and Thai silk. especially the development of skills and technology and inviting French fashion and jewelry stores to procure high quality ingredients from local areas in Thailand. Hope to see the work of Thai designers at events such as Paris Fashion Week. Thailand believes in French defense technology. From being partners for a long time Meanwhile, the Thai aviation industry has established a helicopter maintenance center for Airbus helicopters in Lopburi Province. Thailand hopes to continue this cooperation. We invite France to join us in investing to become a regional production base. or an advanced maintenance center for the world's leading defense company. In addition, the Prime Minister asked the President to consider pushing for Schengen visa exemption for Thai ordinary passport holders. To increase contact between Thai and French individuals and entrepreneurs, as 2025 will be an important year when the government opens the tourism era. The government has prepared in many ways. To support this activity, such as the development of infrastructure and transportation at the port. and a major government project, the Landbridge Project, which will promote travel connectivity. The Prime Min ister is confident that visa exemption will be a convenience for French private sector. Whether it's fashion The government has talked with the private sector to exchange Pop up Store activities to promote sales. Food related activities who talked with Michelin Company and activities related to world-class exhibitions The Prime Minister talked with Formula and Art Basel. Environmental and biodiversity cooperation Thailand supports France's efforts to protect the environment and biodiversity. and is pleased that Thailand and France will hold bilateral negotiations on the environment. biodiversity and protection of plant varieties. Source: Thai News Agency