NewKerala.com

Key Points

India has appointed Aliawati Longkumer as its next ambassador to North Korea, continuing decades of diplomatic engagement. The IFS officer currently heads India's mission in Paraguay and will soon assume his Pyongyang posting. New Delhi maintains historically friendly ties with North Korea despite advocating for denuclearization. The appointment comes as India supports international efforts for peaceful resolution of Korean Peninsula tensions.

Key Points: Aliawati Longkumer Named India's Next Ambassador to North Korea

  • Longkumer currently serves as Charge d'affaires in Paraguay
  • India-North Korea relations date back to 1962
  • India played key role in Korean War POW exchanges
  • New Delhi advocates denuclearization talks for peninsula stability
2 min read

Aliawati Longkumer appointed as next ambassador of India to North Korea

IFS officer Aliawati Longkumer appointed as India's envoy to North Korea, reinforcing diplomatic ties amid regional stability efforts.

"India supports all efforts to bring about peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy. - MEA"

New Delhi, June 16

Aliawati Longkumer has been appointed as India's next ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (also known as North Korea).

Longkumer is currently the Charge d'affaires of the Embassy of India in Asuncion, Paraguay. He is expected to take up the assignment as the next Ambassador of India to North Korea shortly.

"Aliawati Longkumer (YOA : 2008), presently Charge d'affaires a.i. Embassy of India, Asuncion, Paraguay, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Monday.

As per the MEA, relations between India and North Korea have been generally characterised by friendship, cooperation and understanding.

The consular relations with North Korea were set up in March 1962.

According to the MEA, the Consulate General of India in North Korea was established in 1968, with the diplomatic relations between the two countries at Embassy level established on 10 December 1973.

As per the MEA, after the 1950-1953 Korean War, the United Nations had formed a 9-memberNeutral Nations Repatriation Commission under the Chairmanship of India. The Commission's role in the exchange of POWs under the Chairmanship of Major General K S Thimayya was highly appreciated.

Regular and meaningful exchange of views on bilateral issues of mutual interest and concern are conducted through the mechanism of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC).

MEA in a previous statement had noted that India urged North Korea to restrain from nuclear and ballistic missile tests so as to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula.

India supports all efforts to bring about peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy.

Previously, India welcomed the inter-Korean Summit meeting held at Panmunjom on April 27 2018 and in Pyongyang in September 2018.

India also welcomed the historic summit held on 12 June 2018 in Singapore and on 27-28 February in Hanoi between US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, and hoped that such engagement would help in reducing tensions and pave the way for lasting peace and reconciliation in the Korean Peninsula.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Interesting appointment! North Korea is such a closed nation, but India has maintained diplomatic ties for decades. Hope Ambassador Longkumer can strengthen our position in the region. We need more engagement with all countries, even difficult ones. 🇮🇳
P
Priya M.
I remember reading about India's historical role in the Korean War. Our diplomats have always maintained good relations with both Koreas. This is a challenging but important posting. Best wishes to Mr. Longkumer! 🙏
A
Amit S.
North Korea is a nuclear power right next to China. We need to be careful with our diplomacy there. Hope our ambassador can maintain good relations while protecting India's interests. The Korean peninsula situation affects all of Asia.
S
Sunita R.
Not many Indians know about our long-standing relations with North Korea. This article was informative! I wonder if there are any cultural exchange programs between our countries? Would love to know more about their side of the story.
V
Vijay P.
While I understand the need for diplomacy, shouldn't we be more vocal about human rights issues in North Korea? Our foreign policy sometimes seems too soft when it comes to authoritarian regimes. Just my honest opinion.
N
Neha T.
From Paraguay to North Korea - that's quite a career move! 😄 On a serious note, our diplomats serve in some of the most difficult postings with dedication. Salute to their service and sacrifice for the nation.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50