
Aliawati Longkumer appointed as next ambassador of India to 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)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu calls 'India closest and most reliable partner' after PM Modi's 'neighbourhood first' policy
New Delhi, Oct 07 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI Photo) Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has now called India the Maldives' closest and most trusted friend, a big change from his earlier 'India Out' campaign. He made these remarks during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Presidential Office in Malé, as part of Modi's two-day state visit to the Maldives. President Muizzu thanked India for always helping the Maldives first whenever there's an emergency. 'India has always been our closest and most reliable partner,' he said. 'We work together in many important areas like safety, trade, health, and education all of which have a direct impact on the daily lives of our people.' He also pointed out how many Maldivians visit India every day for medical treatment, studying, and business. At the same time, he welcomed Indian people living in the Maldives, saying they play an important role in the country's economy and community. Talking about his government's plans, Muizzu said, 'Our goal is to build a strong and fair economy that gives our young people opportunities, prepares them for a digital future, and helps keep peace in the region. India's support is very important in helping us reach these goals.' In addition to praising India for its quick response during the Maldives' crises, President Muizzu also spoke with Prime Minister Modi about many areas where the two countries work together. These include development, infrastructure support, building skills, tackling climate change, and improving healthcare. Special place for Maldives in 'Neighbourhood First' policy: PM Modi PM Modi promised that India would continue to support the Maldives and its people, based on what is needed and important for both nations, as well as for a peaceful and successful region around the Indian Ocean. The two leaders reviewed the progress of their joint plans for better economic and maritime security under the India-Maldives Joint Vision. Modi confirmed that India would work even harder to strengthen their relationship, following its 'Neighbourhood First' approach and the Vision MAHASAGAR policy. They also agreed to boost their defense and maritime security ties and stressed the importance of their cooperation through the Colombo Security Conclave. Agreements between India and Maldives signed during PM Modi's visit to Maldives India and the Maldives signed six MOUs in the fields of fisheries and aquaculture, meteorology, digital public infrastructure, UPI, Indian pharmacopoeia, and concessional Line of Credit. Fisheries and Aquaculture – For better cooperation in marine resources. Meteorology – To share weather data and improve forecasting. Digital Public Infrastructure – To boost digital systems and e-governance. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) – To bring India's digital payment system to the Maldives. Indian Pharmacopoeia – To align medicine standards and quality. Concessional Line of Credit – A financial agreement to support development projects. Financial support includes: A new Line of Credit worth Rs.4,850 crores (about $550 million) was offered by India to help fund infrastructure and other development activities in the Maldives. An Amendatory Agreement was also signed, reducing the Maldives's annual debt repayment burden by 40 per cent, bringing it down from USD 51 million to USD 29 million. Other key announcements and inaugurations: A roads and drainage system project in Addu City (virtually inaugurated). Six High-Impact Community Development Projects across different cities. 3,300 social housing units handed over to benefit local families. 72 vehicles donated for use by the Maldives National Defence Force and Immigration services. Two Aarogya Maitri Health Cube (BHISHM) units gifted, which can treat 200 patients and support a team of six medical workers for up to 72 hours in emergencies.

Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
'They want to die': Donald Trump blames Hamas for Gaza ceasefire collapse, asks Israel to ‘finish the job'
US President Donald Trump blamed Palestinian militant group Hamas for the Gaza ceasefire collapse. He said on Friday, 'It was too bad. Hamas didn't really want to make a deal…I think they [Hamas] want to die, and it's very, very bad.' In a statement before leaving for a weekend trip to Scotland, Trump said, 'It got to be to a point where you're gonna have to finish the job.' The US president argued that the Palestinian militant group was not ready to hand over the remaining captives in Gaza because "they know what happens after you get the final hostages". 'And, basically, because of this, they didn't really wanna make a deal. So, they pulled out [of the negotiations],' Trump said. Trump's statement came after the US and Israeli negotiators quit indirect talks with Hamas in Qatar, citing concerns that Hamas was not "coordinated" or "acting in good faith." Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy, had then said he was exploring "alternative options" to secure the release of hostages. Trump's comments on Friday marked a clear shift from just weeks ago when Trump appeared confident a deal was close that would end the conflict, release remaining hostages, and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, CNN noted. When asked about his recent interactions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said only that they were "sort of disappointing." He added, "They're gonna have to fight and they're gonna have to clean it up. You're gonna have to get rid of 'em." While Trump placed blame squarely on Hamas, officials in Egypt and Qatar described the current pause in talks as "normal in the context of these complex negotiations." An Israeli official also said the talks had "not at all" collapsed. Meanwhile, -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was now mulling "alternative" options to achieve its goals of bringing its hostages home from Gaza and ending Hamas rule in the enclave, where starvation is spreading and most of the population is homeless amid widespread ruin. (With inputs from ANI, agencies)


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Happened 4 times before': Chirag Paswan defends Bihar SIR as INDIA bloc slams ‘voter cleansing'
Amid the ongoing political storm in Parliament over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, Union Minister Chirag Paswan defended the exercise, reminding critics that this isn't new. Union Minister Chirag Paswan speaks to the media during the Monsoon session of Parliament.(PTI) "This process is not happening for the first time in the country; it has happened four times before, and this time it is being conducted in the same manner as it was done the previous four times," Paswan told ANI. Also Read | Akin to Bihar, special intensive revision of electoral rolls likely in J&K Speaking to reporters in Patna, Paswan firmly backed the ongoing revision drive, stating, "No injustice will be done to any citizen of the country, but if someone is an infiltrator in the country, they will not be allowed to misuse the greatest right, the right to vote." Opposition uproar over Bihar SIR Paswan's comments came after leaders from the Opposition INDIA bloc, including Rabri Devi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, had raised slogans inside Parliament, alleging that the SIR in Bihar is a cover for large-scale voter suppression. The INDIA bloc claims that the SIR process could result in the deletion of thousands—if not lakhs—of legitimate voters from the rolls. Also Read | Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav lock horns in Bihar Assembly over SIR Despite his reassurances, tensions continue to mount. On Friday, several opposition parliamentarians in the Rajya Sabha moved Suspension of Business notices, urging a discussion on the SIR during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. Sloganeering repeatedly disrupted proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, forcing adjournments for the fourth consecutive day of the Monsoon Session. Also Read | ECI cites constitutional responsibility, defends SIR in poll-bound Bihar Outside Parliament, criticism intensified. Speaking to ANI, Shatrughan Sinha said, "Why was SIR brought? The vote looting happening in Maharashtra is being repeated in Bihar, as they know they are losing. Their partner in this is the Election Commission officers." Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra alleged on Friday that the Election Commission of India is "working as a branch" of the Bharatiya Janata Party and that such a thing has "never taken place in the history of India. Bihar assembly election The Bihar elections are expected to be held later this year, in October or November; however, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not announced an official date. On the upcoming Bihar Election, Paswan said talks for seat sharing have not started with BJP, JD (U) and other ally parties in Bihar.