( India ) 
( India ) 

India will strengthen relations with North Korea( India ) 

New Delhi: Currently, many countries of the world are entangled with each other. In such a situation, India ( India )  is moving towards establishing diplomatic relations with North Korea. If seen, a big step was seen in Indian foreign policy recently when India reopened its embassy in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. This step highlights many political and diplomatic aspects, especially when North Korea has been a major rival of America for decades. In such a situation, the whole world will be watching this step, especially America.

North Korea works with extreme ambiguity, due to which New Delhi also maintains its diplomatic relations with Pyongyang silently and out of sight of the rest of the world. The reason behind this is that India has been a supporter of non-alignment from the beginning. India has taken this decision keeping in mind its interests.

Temporarily closed in 2021

In 1973, India established diplomatic relations with both North and South Korea. This was part of India’s policy of non-alignment. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian Embassy in Pyongyang was temporarily closed in July 2021. India has started re-establishing its presence in 2024. The embassy staff is now working,

India will re-establish relations

In July 2021, India quietly closed its embassy in Pyongyang and Ambassador Atul Malhari Gotsurve returned to New Delhi via Moscow with the entire staff. Although the Ministry of External Affairs never officially declared the embassy ‘closed’, when reporters asked why the entire staff was called back, it said the move was taken due to COVID-19.

For years there was no update on the diplomatic mission in Pyongyang and fourteen months ago Gotsurve was given a new appointment as ambassador to Mongolia.

The embassy will be inspected first
The embassy, ​​which has been closed for more than three and a half years, will first have to undergo a thorough inspection. North Korea, which is notorious for its dubious intelligence gathering techniques, means that staff will first have to inspect the entire embassy building. This means that it could take several months, including delays caused by North Korean bureaucracy, for the new ambassador and the rest of the team to join the initial staff sent.

India’s role in global politics
North Korea has two major partners, which include Russia and China. China uses North Korea as a means of diplomatic and military pressure against the US and South Korea. At the same time, in recent years, after the Ukraine war, relations between Russia and North Korea have become stronger. Recently Kim Jong Un visited Russia, and both countries have decided to increase military partnership.

Why is North Korea important?

See, North Korea is very important for India. The story behind this is that in 4 years, North Korea has become a very strong country. Russia and China are its major partners. India and Moscow have a strong relationship. However, India has been following the policy of non-alignment. Keeping this in mind, it is establishing relations with North Korea. India is concerned about its security. China and Pakistan are countries that are always trying to trouble India. The strategic importance of North Korea today is much higher than it was four years ago – not only for India and Asia, but also for the West. From a military point of view, North Korea is constantly increasing its nuclear arsenal, and is also rapidly working on technology such as hypersonic missiles, tactical weapons, short, medium and long range missiles. For India, it is important to be present in Pyongyang and establish such relations so that such technology does not reach Pakistan or its rogue elements.
By strengthening relations with North Korea, India can strengthen its diplomatic equations with China and Russia. With its help, North Korea’s natural resources can open new avenues of investment and trade for India. At the same time, America will closely watch this move of India. It will be clear whether America sees it as India’s diplomatic independence or reconsiders strategic relations.

Keeping in mind Pyongyang’s growing stature in Asia and its activities, New Delhi aims to strengthen diplomatic relations in accordance with its global vision and objectives. Thus North Korea has become strategically very important for India and reopening the embassy in Pyongyang is considered to be the first step towards re-establishing a channel of communication.