India has today asked for investigations into North Korea’s nuclear proliferation linkages and said those responsible for it must be held responsible, in a veiled reference to Pakistan.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made the assertion during her trilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono on Monday, on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly session in New York. Her remarks came days after North Korea fired another mid-range ballistic missile over Japan on Friday. On September 3, North Korea had conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test in direct defiance of United Nations sanctions and other international pressure.
“External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj deplored North Korea’s recent actions and stated that its proliferation linkages must be explored and those involved must be held accountable,” the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told reporters in New York.
Without naming Pakistan, the foreign ministry spokesperson said, “I think I am giving you enough material to try to figure out what we are talking about.”
Last week, India had said at the United Nations that nuclear proliferation linkages active today have clear “Pakistan fingerprints” and an “unbridled’ expansion of fissile material under the nexus between state and non-state actors constitutes the biggest threat to peace.
At her meeting with the US and Japan ministers Ms Swaraj also discussed maritime security and connectivity.
“Three broad issues were discussed — maritime security connectivity and proliferation. We have spelled out what these heads mean on security, the ministers emphasised the need to ensure freedom of navigation respect for international law and peaceful resolution of disputes,” Mr Kumar said.
“On connectivity, there was discussion on how to base them on universally recognised international norms prudent financing and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.
Swaraj arrived in New York early on Monday to attend the 72nd annual session of the UN General Assembly. She is scheduled to address the United Nations on September 23.
