South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Thursday called for Thailand's support for Seoul's efforts to denuclearize North Korea and establish a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, her office said.

Kang held talks with her Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai in Seoul and discussed an array of issues, including deepening cooperation between Seoul and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The minister also asked the Thai minister to continue cooperation and support for Seoul's stepped-up peace efforts when the Southeast Asian country takes the rotating ASEAN chairmanship next year.

The Thai minister was quoted as saying that his country, as the ASEAN chair next year, will provide needed support for Seoul's policy efforts. He also gave a positive assessment of Seoul's peace initiative, Kang's office said.

At the meeting, Kang also underscored that Thailand's cooperation in advancing Seoul's "New Southern Policy" will be crucial.

The Moon Jae-in administration has sought to boost the relationship with ASEAN to the level of Seoul's ties with four major powers, which are the U.S., China, Japan and Russia, due to its geopolitical value, growth potential and rich resources.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Thailand. In 2012, the two countries upgraded their ties to a "strategic partnership."

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (R) shakes hands with her Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai at Kang's office in Seoul before their talks on May 17, 2018. (Yonhap)
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