Swaraj conveys India's security concerns to North Korean FM

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday conveyed India's security concerns to her North Korean counterpart Ri Su Yong in New Delhi, emphasising the significance of peace and stability in the Korean peninsula for the country.

During her comprehensive talks with Ri, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday in a first ever visit by a Foreign Minister from Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Swaraj also assured that India would “positively” consider Korean request for additional humanitarian aid.

The meeting, which comes nearly a month ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Seoul, also provided an opportunity to the India side to re-assess its relationship with North Korea, which is under heavy economic and other sanctions from the United Nations and western countries.

She also reiterated India's stand on the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the KoreanPeninsula, including the objective of denuclearising.

Despite sanctions and other multi-national efforts, the international community has not been able to curb the deep ambitions of Pyongyang, which has conducted several nuclear tests.

This has lead to tougher sanctions imposed on North Korean banking, travel and trade, reflecting the country's increased international isolation.

“The foreign minister level talks were held in a frank and friendly atmosphere where issues of mutual interest including India's security concerns came up for discussion. Swaraj conveyed to her Korean counterpart the significance of peace and stability in the Korean peninsula for India's Act East policy,” the MEA said in a statement after the meeting.

India is also concerned over North Korea supplying missiles to Pakistan. 

Thanking Swaraj for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation, Ri invited her to visit DPRK.

The minister thanked her counterpart for the invitation.

The visiting minister conveyed his country's appreciation for the humanitarian assistance provided by India to DPRK, and in this regard sought additional assistance. “The Minister agreed to positively consider DPRK's request,” the MEA said.

India has been extending humanitarian assistance to DPRK, which has suffered food shortages during the last few years as a result of natural calamities. In 2011, New Delhi provided food assistance worth USD one million (around Rs 6 crore) through the World Food Programme.

Ri also called on Vice President Hamid Ansari.

Image: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj shakes hands with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-Yong during a meeting in New Delhi. Photograph: Subhav Shukla/ PTI