Modi demands probe into North Korea's proliferation links

New Delhi/Manila: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday demanded a thorough probe into North Korea’s proliferation links and, in a veiled reference to Pakistan, said that the parties who supported such “unlawful programmes” should be made accountable.

Speaking at the East Asia Summit in Manila, Mr Modi sought to build up pressure on Pakistan and insisted that North Korea’s proliferation links ought to be investigated and those who support it must be made accountable.

There have been reports over the past several years of North Korea supplying crucial missile technology to Pakistan which returned the favour by illegally supplying nuclear technology to it.

Though India has articulated its position on North Korea earlier, Mr Modi’s demand for a probe at the summit puts India in alignment with the US’ position on North Korea. 

Modi bats for freedom of navigation 
The East Asia Summit is attended by the 10 Asean nations along with nine other nations including India, China, Japan, the US, Russia and Australia. 

Leaders at the East Asia Summit discussed the situation in the Korean peninsula, and Modi also held bilateral meetings with leaders of Japan, Australia, Vietnam, New Zealand and Brunei.

Secretary (East) in the MEA Preeti Saran told reporters in Manila that at the summit PM Modi also asserted India’s consistent position on freedom of navigation in the region which is seen by observers as a veiled reference to Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea. In his bilateral meetings, Modi held wide-ranging talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe with a focus on further ramping up the strategic partnership between the two countries.