Thailand ready to play role in Kim-Trump summit

By The Nation

 

In this file photo taken on June 12, 2018 US President Donald Trump (R) gestures as he meets with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (L) at the start of their historic US-North Korea summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore. --AFP

 

Thailand, as Asean chair, is ready to facilitate the second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump, an official at the Thai Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

 

Bangkok is among Asian cities reportedly being considered as possible venues, along with Vietnam and Singapore, for the summit between the two leaders. 

 

It would be a joint decision by the US and North Korea about their meeting venue, and the status of Asean chair will not be a factor, said the Foreign Ministry’s Asean Affairs Department director-general, Suriya Chinadawongse.

 

Asean, however, has engaged with North Korea at the Asean Regional Forum (ARF), a security consultation forum, and with the US in many forums, including the ARF and the East Asia Summit.

 

“In our capacity as Asean chair, we could facilitate the use of such forums for the benefit of peace in the Korea Peninsula,” he said. “It is not our style of diplomacy to offer Bangkok as the venue; it depends on their decision.”

 

CNN had reported early this week that Bangkok, Hanoi and Hawaii have been visited by White House scouting teams in search of a location for the potential summit between Kim and Trump.

 

The Korea Herald reported on Thursday that Vietnam and Singapore were likely to be shortlisted to host the second summit between the two leaders.

 

Singapore and Vietnam are within flying distance of the North Korean leader’s plane, the Chammae-1, which is capable of flying a distance of 7,000 kilometres. This matches Trump’s comment that the summit will be held “within plane distance”, in early December, it reported.

 

According to CNN, some experts worry that hosting the summit in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi would send the wrong message because it would invite a comparison between North Korea and Vietnam. Kim does not want to emulate another communist country’s efforts to modernise its economy, experts say. Kim is wary of inviting foreign investment, which he believes could disrupt his grip on power.

 

It is believed that Bangkok would remain in the running to be the venue, as Thailand has the advantage of diplomatic ties with North Korea. And like in Singapore – where Trump and Kim met in June last year – Pyongyang would be able to send its teams that could be based at its embassy in the city ahead of time for planning. That will not be the case with Hawaii.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30362069

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-1-11

I think Pattaya would be perfect for the Donald, he could indulge his favorite passion, on the cheap.

Kim and Donald would be happy to tour around Soi Cowboy, Patpong and Nana as part of diplomacy talks.

33 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

I think Pattaya would be perfect for the Donald, he could indulge his favorite passion, on the cheap.

You think he would dare to grab em by the ....... there?? Plenty of ladyboys around.

Will not be easy to get Trump into the very type of country he thinks is a dump. Also, the Thais couldn't organize anything so important. Will be fun to watch the disorganized chaos if Bangkok wins it. 

Sure. If there are free and fair elections and a real government is formed - maybe. Baby steps, mind. 

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand ready to play role in Kim-Trump summit

Oh no! Prayut's not going to write them a love song is he?

Nah, he can't speak a worm of Ingrish, so neither of them would understand it.

Probably won't stop him trying though - everyone says how trying he is.

 

Can't even organise a simple election after having 4 years to get it planned - can you just imagine the screw-up they could organise for Trump - Kim on short notice.

Edited January 11, 20197 yr by Artisi

How is Thailand going to organise a summit such as this? They couldn't organise a kindergarten party let alone an election which are about the same on the difficulty rating scale.

Edited January 11, 20197 yr by Cadbury

18 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

How is Thailand going to organise a summit such as this? They couldn't organise a kindergarten party let alone an election which are about the same on the difficulty rating scale.

doubt they could even organise an erection ….

That would be cool. I'd like to see it here.

Impossible !! It would be a security nightmare. In fact there would be no safety for them unless they fly everywhere by helicopter. But NOT a Thai helicopter. We have seen their safety record in the past.

Yeah  theyll  need someone to do the cooking I  guess

13 hours ago, fruitman said:

You think he would dare to grab em by the ....... there?? Plenty of ladyboys around.

He might get a lot more than a handful!

security here will be impregnable.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Bangkok is among Asian cities reportedly being considered as possible venues

If the US specifies only after an elected Thai government is installed, then Prayut will decline.

27 minutes ago, SmartyMarty said:

security here will be impregnable.

So no unwanted babies then.

still trying to get their 5 minutes in the limelight...

 

It's disappointing to see any country being opportunistic like this, just for the face.

 

It's like seeing an old hooker who doesn't understand that her attractive years are behind her, and that nobody with a brain wants her now.

 

Very sad.

 

14 hours ago, PatOngo said:

I think Pattaya would be perfect for the Donald, he could indulge his favorite passion, on the cheap.

Which is ?

55 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

Which is ?

Hint.....Stormy Daniels!

14 hours ago, Artisi said:

Can't even organise a simple election after having 4 years to get it planned - can you just imagine the screw-up they could organise for Trump - Kim on short notice.

They'd probably have to postpone the election in order to allow them to concentrate on organising the summit.

That's the ticket!  Maybe the junta guys could bring some tasty Thai food and have chics in bikinis serving beer same as the Big C beergarten.

Why don't they consider CM.  There's a wall here!

Would love to see this meeting in Thailand. The authorities could tell both sides to stop being Hicks, with a D, and be more like Thai politics as it's the best in the world. 

Nothing is out of bounds for a photo op with Trump. Keep him out of Thailand please, we have enough problems here with out him blocking up the traffic in Bangkok.

1 minute ago, Pedrogaz said:

Nothing is out of bounds for a photo op with Trump. Keep him out of Thailand please, we have enough problems here with out him blocking up the traffic in Bangkok.

Plus it will put noses out of joint here - all those who hog the photo-ops day-in-day-out. What will Big Joke do if he ends up second fiddle to Trump?

If they come to Thailand with all their entourages I hope the visa applications go in early or will they get the "visa on entry option"??

Thailand cannot plan this successfully on such a short notice.  They would be mired in too much red tape and too many people afraid to take action as they might "upset" someone else's department.  

 

Leave it to Singapore to pull this off.  

Perhaps they should stage it at the Chang Brewery then all they have to do is figure out how to open the bottles, yes I know its a real challenge to find where Kampheang Phet is for starters.. especially if you cant reed or rite English or read a map come to that.

9 hours ago, kannot said:

Yeah  theyll  need someone to do the cooking I  guess

Cooking, massage, happy endings. Thailand is perfect for those.