New Delhi
10 October 2006
New Delhi will persist with its policy of "engaging" North Korea and
maintain the "limited relations" it has with Pyongyang on an even keel, well-placed
sources in the Ministry of External Affairs told this newspaper.
The sources said New Delhi has briefed several countries about its position and was
also checking on the positions of other countries in the wake of the underground nuclear
test conducted by North Korea.
"We have no policy restrictions. We did not cut off our relations [in the past] and we will
[engage] Pyongyang [even] now," an official tracking New Delhi's engagement with
Pyongyang said.
He said India and North Korea have had regular and meaningful exchange of views
through the mechanism of foreign office consultations. The Secretary (East) co-chaired
the last meeting at Pyongyang in 2005.
Another official said New Delhi was in touch with the Indian mission in Pyongyang but
declined to comment whether there has been any communication with the Embassy of
North Korea in New Delhi.
North Korean diplomatic sources were less forthcoming. They referred the October 3
statement of the foreign ministry in response to all queries. The embassy will reopen on
Wednesday after the "KWP Foundation Day" holiday.
The sources in the Ministry of External Affairs said India regularly supplied humanitarian
assistance like rice to North Korea. India supplied 3,000 tonnes of rice to Pyongyang in
September 2002 and July 2004.
In June this year, Indian Ambassador to Pyongyang NT Khankhup helped members of
the Korea-India Friendship Kalchon Co-operative Farm in farm work. Earlier in February,
India donated another 2,000 tonnes of rice.
Incidentally, trade is limited due to shortage of foreign exchange with North Korea;
Pyongyang is keen to import from India consumer goods on "deferred payment basis"
and / or by "barter trade".
When contacted, North Korean diplomatic refrained from making any comment except for
referring the October 3 statement by the foreign ministry that clarified Pyongyang's stand
on measures to bolster its war deterrent for self-defence.
The statement read, "The DPRK will never use nuclear weapons first .... The DPRK's
nuclear weapons will serve as reliable war deterrent [for] security of the Korean nation
from the US threat of aggression".
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