While the world is focused on the actions of the West along with the wars in Central and West Asia and the Middle East and Europe, India is looking and acting east with its Act East policy. Apart from promoting its relations with Southeast Asian countries, New Delhi has been quietly and cautiously pursuing its policy in the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea largely operates with ambiguity, as a result of which New Delhi has to maintain its diplomatic relations with Pyongyang in silence and unawareness to the rest of the world.
In July 2021, India quietly closed its embassy in Pyongyang and Ambassador Atul Malhari Gotsurve returned to New Delhi via Moscow along with the entire staff. Although the Ministry of External Affairs never officially declared the embassy ‘closed’, when journalists asked why the entire staff was called back, it said the move was taken due to COVID-19.
Years passed, with no update on the diplomatic mission in Pyongyang and fourteen months ago, Mr. Gotsurve was given a new posting as Ambassador to Mongolia.
Another year passed and then suddenly, earlier this month, India decided to resume normal functioning at its embassy in Pyongyang. Within a few days, a team of technical staff and diplomatic personnel was dispatched to North Korea. According to a report in The Tribune, personnel have already reached Pyongyang and are in the process of making the mission fully functional.
The embassy, ​​which has been closed for more than three and a half years, will first have to undergo a thorough investigation. North Korea, which is notorious for its questionable intelligence gathering techniques, would mean staff would have to debug the entire embassy building first. This, and expected delays from North Korea’s bureaucracy, means it could take several months for the new ambassador and the rest of the team to join the initial staff sent.
North Korea’s increasing influence
North Korea’s strategic importance is much greater today than it was four years ago – not only for India and Asia, but also for the West. Militarily, North Korea has been steadily increasing its nuclear arsenal, while also rapidly working on technology such as hypersonic missiles, tactical weapons, short, medium and long-range missiles. It is important for India to remain present in Pyongyang and establish such relations so that such technology does not reach Pakistan or its extremist elements.
Over the past few years, North Korea has also deepened its ties with Russia, China and Iran – a growing alliance in Asia that many see as an answer to the Quad – a security and trade grouping that includes the US, Japan, India and Australia are included. Dealing with this diplomatically is also a big priority for India.
While New Delhi already has very strong relations with Moscow, it also shares good diplomatic relations with Tehran. Neighboring countries India and China – the two most populous countries – are also working to overcome differences for lasting peace in Asia. This leaves out Pyongyang – a relationship that New Delhi has so far handled very cautiously.
North Korea has also expanded trade ties with Russia and provided boots on the ground for the war with Russian troops in Ukraine.
Keeping in mind Pyongyang’s growing stature and activity across Asia, New Delhi aims to strengthen diplomatic ties in line with its global vision and objectives. North Korea has thus become strategically important for India and the reopening of the embassy in Pyongyang is seen as the first step in re-establishing the channel of communication.
