Three years after Thailand claimed it completely halted trade with North Korea, officials from both countries met in Bangkok to discuss how they can “strengthen” relations, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Monday.

Thani Thongphakdi — Thailand’s permanent secretary for foreign affairs — met with North Korean Ambassador Kim Je Bong on Feb. 16 and also vaguely exchanged views on the “COVID-19 situation,” according to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MFA) Twitter page. 

Less than two weeks earlier, Ambassador Kim met with the director-general of the ministry’s Department of East Asian Affairs, Arjaree Sriratananban, and discussed developing