After three-and-a-half years, India resumed its diplomatic operations in North Korea earlier this month. Though the diplomatic staff have returned to Pyongyang, India is yet to appoint an ambassador.
In a statement to NK News, the Union ministry of external affairs said its embassy is operational, with staff rotations and routine activities currently underway.
New Delhi recalled its ambassador Atul Malahari Gotsurve from Pyongyang via Moscow during the height of Covid-19 pandemic on July 2, 2021. However, the diplomatic relations were not restored even after the pandemic was brought under control.
With no updates on the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Malhari Gotsurve was appointed as India's ambassador to Mongolia on September 19, 2023.
North Korea is known for its bureaucratic delays and improvement in diplomatic relations is a tight-rope walk. The hermit kingdom is also infamous for its deceitful means of gathering intelligence. Hence, the staff currently sent to the embassy have the humoungous task of finding bugs that could be installed by the host country.
Did Donald Trump's victory push India to restore diplomatic ties with North Korea?
During his first presidential term, Donald Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un thrice, even going on to say that "we fell in love". The Tribune suggested that India expediated the restoration of diplomacy with North Korea following Trump's returns as US president. Though President Joe Biden tried to resume dialogue without any pre-conditions, Pyongyang has ignored the US outreach in the past four years.
What restoration of diplomatic ties with North Korea means for India
Since North Korea has a growing nuclear arsenal as well as a huge stockpile of hypersonic missiles, it is important for New Delhi to engage with Pyongyang. North Korea enjoys good relations with Pakistan, which means India has to ensure equally strong ties with the hermit kingdom. This could make sure that advanced technology does not get into the hands of Islamabad.
This comes as India is seeking to improve its ties with China, a key ally of North Korea. Russia and Iran, with whom India has robust relations, are also important allies of the hermit kingdom.
North Korea's archrival and neighbour South Korea has increasingly improved its relations with India. Seoul recently celebrated its National Day in New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.