Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a congratulatory message to Sihasak Phuangketkeow upon his appointment as foreign minister of the Kingdom of Thailand on Sept. 24. 

The message expressed belief that the bilateral friendly relations would enter a new stage of development this year marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and the Kingdom of Thailand through close cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries.