India can contribute constructively toward peace in the Korean peninsula: Ambassador

Against the backdrop of a historic meet between the presidents of North, and South Korea, Seoul's Ambassador to New Delhi Shin Bong-kil today said India could contribute constructively toward peace in the Korean peninsula and in northeast Asia.

Speaking at the third Korea-India Friendship Quiz Competition 2018, the Ambassador said, "I am very much encouraged by the developments in the Korean peninsula. This was done through political will of top leaders in the peninsula, including South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Even before taking office, he had thought about making a breakthrough in the Korean peninsula, particularly on the nuclear issue. He sent envoys and invited the North Korean sports team to the Winter Olympics," he said.

The Ambassador said he was happy to see the change in dynamics, and added that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was also responding to the efforts of South Korean president.

On India's contribution, he said, "I am cautiously optimistic that the process of denuclearisation would bring peace in the Korean peninsula and also in northeast Asia. I hope India can also contribute constructively because it is a nuclear power and also, for a long time, it has played important role in the peninsula."
The quiz competition, in which four top performing school students will be taken on a free trip to Korea, Shin said, "was among the best public diplomacy that the South Korean government has developed in India."