India has made an important decision to reopen its embassy in North Korea. This move shows that India is becoming more interested in building stronger ties with North Korea. In 2021, India closed its embassy in Pyongyang because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, now India has decided to resume operations there. This change is part of India's long-term plan to improve its relationship with North Korea, a country that has become more important in global politics.

Why did India close its embassy in Pyongyang in 2021?

In July 2021, India decided to close its embassy in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. Ambassador Atul Malhari Gotsurve and all the embassy staff were called back to New Delhi, travelling through Moscow. The Indian government didn't officially announce the closure, but they told the media it was because of the COVID-19 pandemic. After that, there was no new information about the embassy, and Ambassador Gotsurve was given a new job in Mongolia.

For more than three years, India's embassy in Pyongyang was inactive. But earlier this month, India sent a team to North Korea to reopen the embassy. Within a few days, technical and diplomatic staff arrived in Pyongyang to get the embassy working again. This move shows that India is now paying more attention to North Korea, which could mean it has long-term plans for the region.

Why is North Korea becoming more important for India?

In recent years, North Korea has been quickly improving its military, including developing nuclear weapons and advanced missiles. This is seen as a threat to not just North Korea's neighbours but also to other countries like India. India's biggest concern is that North Korea's missiles and nuclear technology could end up in Pakistan, a country that shares a long border with India and also has its own nuclear weapons program.

North Korea’s military power has made it more important in global politics. The country has built stronger ties with Russia, China, and Iran, creating a growing alliance in Asia. Some people believe this alliance challenges the influence of the Quad, a group made up of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia. North Korea's military partnerships with these countries are important issues that India needs to address.

How will this impact India’s relationships with other countries?

India has good diplomatic and trade relations with Russia and Iran. While India and China sometimes have disagreements, they still talk and try to find peaceful solutions. However, North Korea’s growing influence in Asia has become an important issue for India’s foreign policy, and India now has to pay more attention to its relationship with North Korea.

For India, it's very important to make sure that North Korea's nuclear and missile technology does not end up in countries like Pakistan, as it could create security problems. This is one of the main reasons why India has decided to reopen its embassy in Pyongyang and pay more attention to what is happening in North Korea.

North Korea's influence has spread beyond Asia. The country has started trading more with Russia and even sent soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. This growing relationship between North Korea and Russia is important for India. India wants to maintain its good relationship with Russia, but it also has concerns about North Korea's growing partnership with Russia.