South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will visit Thailand next week as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and promote Seoul's diplomatic drive to deepen engagement with Southeast Asia, her office said Tuesday.

During her visit Monday, Kang will meet top Thai officials, including Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, her ministry's spokesman Noh Kyu-duk said.

"Minister Kang will request continued support for our government's New Southern Policy and its policy for (peace on) the Korean Peninsula from Thailand, which will be the 2019 chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations," Noh said. 

(Yonhap)
Kang's visit to Thailand has been arranged to reciprocate the visit by the Thai foreign minister in May.

The Moon Jae-in administration has pushed for the New Southern Policy to boost the relationship with ASEAN to the level of Seoul's ties with four major powers, which are the United States, 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 the two countries. In 2012, South Korea and Thailand upgraded their ties to a "strategic partnership." (Yonhap)