Amogh Rohmetra
70 years ago on June 25, a war broke out after the North Korea supported by China and Soviet Union attacked its newly broken southern part of Korea, which was supported by the USA. As the cold war was still on, famously known as the Korean War, it lasted over three years. But the resultant countries chose to be very different from each other. South Korea (or “Republic of Korea”) chose to be a progressive democracy eventually after a revolution in 1980s, whereas North Korea (or “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” or DPRK) remains a democracy only in its name. We widely recognize it as an isolated, communist dictatorship which is harsh on its people. It is isolated to an extent, where even the slightest movements become widely covered news.
It is more inclined towards military and recently Donald Trump has helped in making the country, talk of the town. But does India even have any formal or informal relations with North Korea?
YES, India has relations with North Korea better than most of the countries. As per 2019 report of Ministry of External Affairs “Relations between India and DPRK have been generally characterised by friendship, cooperation and understanding.” But the relations have barely got coverage from the media in a long time. India remains amongst the rare countries apart from China and Russia, to have maintained ties with North Korea for such a long time.
History
After the Korean War, a committee headed by India was formed by UN which played a significant role in release of prisoners of war by both North and South Korea. It was chaired by Maj. Gen. K S Thimayya.
Later, India established consular relations with North Korea in the year 1962 and full diplomatic relations in 1973. Both have embassies in each of the countries.
In 1974, India gave DPRK, the status of ‘Most Favoured Nation’ and eventually a trade agreement was signed in 1978. Both the countries share common views being a part of Non- Aligned Movement.
But India and DPRK’s relations had been stained in 1990s mainly due to its involvement in nuclear trade with Pakistan. In 2004, Pakistan’s famous nuclear scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan, admitted to have transferred nuclear technology to North Korea. It is widely believed that this confession led to his detention for five years after Pakistan was left embarrassed.
Economic relations
“India’s export to DPRK was US$ 44.99 million and import was US$ 85.39 million during the Financial Year 2016-2017” as per ministry of commerce, though few organizations estimate it to be more. Not much of present data is available but still India remains one amongst the top few nations in terms of trade, China being responsible for 90% of its trade.
After UN sanctions on North Korea, India’s trade has fallen significantly as per Government of India after April 2017. It has mostly restricted itself to food and medicines. What concerns India most is North Korea’s significant trade with Pakistan and China. Its trade with Pakistan was also discussed during the visit of DPRK’s foreign minister to India in 2015. Pakistan’s trade took pace when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the then Prime Minister of Pakistan visited North Korea in 1970s.
Cultural & Educational ties
India and North Korea share few agreements in the field of education and culture. India has been assisting North Korea in the fields of Science and IT. Both countries have actively participated in various cultural programmes and hosted each other for Cultural Exchange Programmes.
Many Indian films have participated and won various awards in the film festival hosted in the capital city of Pyongyang.
There also exists Korea-India Friendship Association (KIFA) established in 1970. It has been very active in the DPRK to boost the cultural image of India and has also worked with Ministry of Cultural affairs, India.
Humanitarian Assistance
Due to nature of the country, DPRK has faced various calamities such as famine and has suffered hugely. India is a regular contributor towards North Korea in terms of food, medicines and monetary support. North Korea has often acknowledged India’s humanitarian support.
In 2002, “The assistance provided from India consisted of consignment of blankets, rice, wheat, baby food, polythene sheets, etc.” when DPRK was still recovering from famine caused in 1998. India had sent 2000MT (Million tonne) the same year and two years later 1000MT of rice along with medicines. In 2004, after Ryongchon disaster, where a flammable train blasted, India had provided North Korea with medicines. In 2006, DPRK was gifted 2000MT of rice on behalf of the country.
In 2011 and 2016, India provided DPRK with food assistance worth 1 million USD each time through WFP (World food Program), including during 2016 floods.
On the other hand DPRK government had donated USD $30,000 in the PM National Relief Fund during 2004 Tsunami.
Bilateral Visits
Though no Indian Prime Minister or President has ever visited the communist nation, the then Ambassador of India in South Korea, B. M. Oza, once remembered that Prime Minister Narsimha Rao was strongly considering to visit North Korea but eventually he didn’t visit as advised by his bureaucracy.
In 1992 Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, the then Vice President visited DPRK on an invitation of their Vice President who visited India in 1991. During PM Narsimha Rao’s tenure, frequent visits from both ends were seen. From India Jyoti Basu, Chief Minister of West Bengal; P.A. Sangma, Speaker of Lok Sabha; GirijaVyas and K P Singh Deo, Mos for I&B; CPI (M) General Secretary visited one after other almost every year.
On the other hand, India received their Prime Minister, Li Gun Moin in1988, Vice Presidents, Chairmen of the Supreme Peoples’ Assembly (SPA), Foreign Affairs Minister and Vice Ministers among others over the years.
In 1998, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, MoS for I&B paid a visit for Pyongyang Film Festival. Though many visits have taken place since then but high level visits have started to gain momentum as Modi Government hasn’t left North Korea behind.
In 2015 DPRK’s foreign minister visited India where concerns towards Pakistan were raised and in 2018, MoS, Ministry of External Affairs had visited DPRK. This visit drew mixed reactions around the world when global tensions in regard to North Korea were rising.
India’s Stand on Nuclear tests
India has publicly shown concern towards the nuclear tests of the country. In a reply by Ministry of External Affairs to a question raised in Lok Sabha ,” We are deeply concerned at the reported nuclear test conducted by the DPRK. It is unfortunate that the DPRK has conducted such a test in violation of its international commitments, jeopardising peace, stability and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.” in 2006.
India has been widely critical of North Korea’s nuclear tests. This does not stop them from enhancing their relations even today. In return to North Korea’s support for India’s permanent seat in UNSC, “India made note that they abstained from voting on Human Rights issues against the DPRK in all international forums.” As per Global Politics Review Journal of International Studies, Issue 1, dated April 2016.
Modi Government’s Approach
Current Government has been progressive in its approach especially since 2018. In 2015, DPRK foreign minister visited and also approached businessmen to invest in the country.
In 2017, Sushma Swaraj had pointedly told Mr Tillerson, US Secretary of State, “embassies of some of your friendly countries should remain there so that some channels of communications remain open” and thus rejected USA’s request to close their diplomatic ties with North Korea.
Instead in 2018, India sent its ambassador to Pyongyang after a gap of six years in a bid to improve ties seriously and play a role in global politics. Mr. Atul Malhari Gotsurve is the India’s man in these sensitive times.
The same year, V.K. Singh, MoS, Ministry of External Affairs, had paid a visit to North Korea which was after two decades that an Indian Minister visited the country. The two days of talks earlier this week covered “political, regional, economic, educational and cultural cooperation between the two countries”. This meeting was widely covered and different views were brought forward globally.
Though lesser known, but North Korea remains a friendly country towards India and both countries have been mutual beneficiaries of their ties. But as the world is going against North Korea’s policies, will India abandon its old friend? Or will it have a role to play in greater global politics?
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