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“No reservation over nuclear deal”

— Photo: AFP

Song Min-soon: India has a great responsibility — as a great country, as the largest democracy in the world — for strengthening the global non-proliferation regime.

You are posing a very sensitive issue, and you are bringing me to the corner of a defining moment (laughs heartily). We fully understand India’s need for peaceful use of nuclear energy. At the same time, India has a great responsibility — as a great country, as the largest democracy in the world — for strengthening the global non-proliferation regime.

We have [placed] great reliability and credibility on India’s sound discretion and its sense of responsibility in the international community. On the other hand, as far as the Republic of Korea is concerned, we are in a unique position. One, we are the sixth largest nuclear-energy country in the world. And, at the same time, we are now … making a de-nuclearised Korean peninsula. We, as a key member of the six-party talks, are ardently pursuing the goal of de-nuclearising the peninsula. So we are sensitive to any development that may give any unintended impact on our efforts for de-nuclearising the Korean peninsula. With that in mind, while fully understanding India’s need for peaceful use of nuclear energy and its commitment for strengthening the non-proliferation regime, we will take our position in the NSG. So [too] the others.

I cannot go further to take our position in public. Also, we support India’s endeavour, India’s position, to galvanise, to strengthen the global non-proliferation regime.

I am not telling that we do have some reservation in taking our position vis-À-vis this India-United States deal. What I am saying is that because of our unique position in which Korea is, we cannot make our position in public. I think, that says enough (smiles).

Yes, yes. I think, India will continue to behave as a responsible member of the international community, which needs to strengthen your non-proliferation regime.

It is up to India’s discretion.

Actually, that cannot be decided by RoK alone. We are somewhat composed [about] seeing the future developments of India’s policy, India’s course. Because India is increasingly becoming an important player, [a] member of the international community. That says everything that I can. You are very much (laughs heartily) [questioning] me.

We will see. We will see this issue.

Korea believes that India will be complementary to other member-countries [the U.S., Canada, the European Union, China, Japan, and RoK], as India is recognised as having a competitive edge in the science and technology sector. India’s participation is significant because the ITER project is a joint effort to ensure the peaceful use of nuclear energy while also conforming to an international non-proliferation regime.

India enjoys a special status with the two Koreas. By making use of this special status, we hope India will provide North Korea with the appropriate advice, so that North Korea will be able to actively participate in the international community through the reform and opening up of its society. Our Government would greatly appreciate the support of India with regard to the six-party talks [on the de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula].

The concerned parties have repeatedly expressed their position on the implications of the China factor. My Government believes that the initiative [for this quadrilateral forum] is not a geopolitical bloc against any particular third country.

Korea has built a democracy and a market economy that meet the highest global standards. And [Korea] has been exercising regional roles commensurate with its political status and economic capability. We do not see any reason for any particular country to attempt to marginalise Korea.

We have been supporting the [formation of a] reformed Security Council that is more representative, democratic, transparent, and efficient. Any proposal on Security Council reform should be based on the widest possible political agreement of the U.N. member-states.

I do not see any real concerns that could cast a shadow on our bilateral relations. There are no disputes or security concerns between our two countries and no feeling of animosity between the two peoples. Our two countries are united by the shared values of democracy and market economy. There is, moreover, huge potential for mutually beneficial cooperation.

At this time, both sides are in the midst of what is normally the most challenging phase of CEPA negotiations: finalising the tariff offers for trade in goods and the concession list for trade in services. I am confident that the two sides will be able to finalise the negotiations by the end of this year.

While the difficulties encountered by [the Korean company] POSCO in its efforts to construct a state-of-the-art steel complex [in Orissa] do give rise to some concerns in the short term, in the long term Korea is quite confident about the direction of the Indian economy. I can tell you that Korea’s business sector foresees strong economic growth in India in the future and is committed to actively participating in the process.

ROK’s defence cooperation with India … gaining momentum … is not directed against any third country.

RoK and India are endeavouring to base bilateral defence ties on objective factors and mutual interest. Technology and market factors will govern the relations.

Korea is cooperating on the security and defence front with China. One notable example is the annual foreign policy and security dialogue. We believe that bilateral security cooperation of this kind will indeed serve to further strengthen regional security in East Asia.

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