June 19 is the day which opened another significant chapter in the history of friendly and cooperative relations between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea(DPRK) and the Kingdom of Thailand.

On June 19, 1993, 32 years ago, President Kim Il Sung met His Majesty Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, King of the Kingdom of Thailand, during his second visit to the DPRK in the capacity of the then Crown Prince, and hosted a reception for him.

President Kim Il Sung made meaningful remarks, during talks and the reception, that both countries value independence and are close friends advancing hand-in-hand towards peace, stability and prosperity of Asia. He expressed his conviction that the Crown Prince’s visit would contribute to further developing the DPRK-Thailand relations of friendship and cooperation.

His Highness Maha Vajiralongkorn expressed his pleasure to visit the DPRK again following his visit in March 1992 and thanked His Excellency President Kim Il Sung for his kindness to make it happen. He also said that the Korean people’s healthy and happy appearances and the excellent educational policy for children of the DPRK left a deep impression on him

President Kim Il Sung took benevolent measures lest he feel any inconvenience during his tour of Pyongyang, Mt Paektu, Mt Kumgang and many other places of the DPRK.

Therefore, His Highness Crown Prince said in deep emotion: I respect His Excellency President Kim Il Sung from the bottom of my heart. I will never forget the Korean people for their warm and hearty welcome extended to me during my stay. The more I come here, the more often I want to visit Korea.

The time-honoured and traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and Thailand have entered a phase of fresh development thanks to the close attention of respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the DPRK and His Majesty Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, King of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Our people remain steadfast in their will to strengthen the ties of friendship with Thailand, which have been formed over decades and centuries, by continuously developing in broader scope the bilateral relations across various fields including politics, the economy and culture in this significant year which marks the 50 th anniversary of establishment of the diplomatic relations (May 8, 1975).

The DPRK-Thailand relations of friendship and cooperation will continue to grow dynamically with the immortal pictures cherished by the peoples of the two countries.

Kim Myong Jin President Korea-Asia Association