Pyongyang: India’s Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs General V.K. Singh (retired) became the first Indian minister to visit North Korea in 20 years. The meeting comes soon after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited North Korea for preparatory talks ahead of the Trump-Kim Summit.

As per a release by the Ministry of External Affairs, Singh arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday for a two-day visit to hold bilateral talks on the entire gamut of bilateral relations with his North Korean counterpart and various other high-level officials.

Chief among the talking points, General V.K. Singh raised concerns, in line with New Delhi's previous statements, asking North Korea to address the nuclear proliferation linkages to Pakistan. India points to the alleged role of Pakistan's AQ Khan in helping North Korea develop its nuclear program. “[Mr. Singh] highlighted the threat from nuclear proliferation, in particular India’s concerns in the context of the proliferation linkages with India’s neighbourhood. The DPRK side emphasized that as a friendly country DPRK will never allow any action that would create concerns for India’s security,” the statement added.

The visit by General Singh closely followed the presentation of credentials by the new Indian Ambassador Atul Gotsurve to Pyongyang.

Gotsurve, who is one of the senior-most IFS officers to be posted to North Korea by India, presented his credentials to Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK on Monday. The visit resulted in Pyongyang pledging not to ever create concerns for India's security.

Singh met a delegation including Kim Yong Dae, Vice President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, Minister of Culture Pak Chun Nam and North Korea Vice Foreign Minister Choe Hui Chol.

North Korea also provided an overview of some of the recent development work in the Korean peninsula.

Despite North Korea being osctracised by most of the world for its defiance of UNSC norms on nuclear proliferation, India has maintained diplomatic ties with Pyongyang. In 2017, New Delhi had even refused a request from then U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to shut down its diplomatic mission in Pyongyang altogether. But, the Indian government has instituted major restrictions on any trade with North Korea other than essentials like food and medicines.

General Singh’s visit seems like an effort to rekindle the bilateral after a thaw in relations between North and South Korea as well as with the U.S. Further, Singh reiterated the on-going peace process between North-South Korea as he encouraged both the sides to establish peace and prosperity in the Korean peninsula.

India and North Korea also decided to explore possibilities of cooperation in areas of mutual interest including vocational education, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, promotion of Yoga and traditional medicines. The two leaders also agreed on enhancing people-to-people relations in the field of education and culture. (With Agency inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 17, 2018 05:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).