India will not shut embassy in North Korea

New Delhi: India on Wednesday made it clear that it will not shut its embassy in North Korea, telling the United States that it (the US) must have some friendly countries that have embassies in Pyongyang so that “communication channels are open”. Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said India’s trade with North Korea is “minimal” and that it has a “small’ embassy in Pyongyang.

In another major move, the US indicated it had no objection to India and Afghanistan’s efforts to develop the Chabahar port in Iran, adding that it was not against “legitimate business activities” of European countries or India with Iran. Visiting US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said the US was not against the Iranian people and wanted sanctions to punish the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the “oppressive revolutionary” regime there.

“It will not be incorrect to say that our trade is minimal with North Korea. We have a small embassy there,” Ms Swaraj said, in response to a question from the American media.

Referring to the US, she said, “Some of your friends’ embassies should be there (in Pyongyang). Channels of communication should be there (with North Korea),” adding that Mr Tillerson had “appreciated” India’s stand. The US has been involved in a fierce war of words with the North Korean regime amid global fears of a nuclear conflict due to the nuclear capabilities and aggression shown by North Korea.

In response to a question from the US media on whether there was a contradiction between the US strategy on Afghanistan (which has invested in the Chabahar project) and on Iran, Mr Tillerson replied in the negative. He indicated that the US had no objection to Indo-Afghan efforts (with Iran) to develop the Chabahar port in Iran (that is expected to drastically reduce Afghanistan’s dependence on Pakistan regarding maritime access). Mr. Tillerson said, “It is not the objective (of the US) to interfere with legitimate business activities” of European countries or India with Iran, Mr. Tillerson said, adding that the US was “not against the Iranian people”.

He said the US was against Iran’s nuclear programme and also accused Tehran of carrying out disruptive activities in Yeman and Syria.

“The Iranian people should one day retake control,” Mr Tillerson said, adding that “they live under an oppressive revolutionary” regime.