India cautions reclusive North Korea against further isolating itself 31st July 2013

North Koreas focus on military, sanctions arising from its nuclear programme, has left its economy crippled
An official delegation comprising three MPs on Monday concluded a rare visit to North Korea, which took place amid unusually heightened diplomatic activity between New Delhi and the reclusive Pyongyang. The delegation, led by CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, was in Pyongyang to attend the elaborate celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the armistice agreement to end the Korean War an affair celebrated by both the North and South. Mr. Yechury, accompanied by BJP MP Tarun Vijay and Congress MP Hamdullah Sayeed, called on Choe Thae-bok, chairman of the Supreme Peoples Assembly, the unicameral Parliament of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. North Korea had seen the visit as particularly significant, expressing happiness that an official Indian delegation had visited the country after a considerable duration. Mr. Choe also expressed thanks for Indias continuing support of food aid to the North, with around $1-millionworth of aid being routed through the World Food Programme. India, for its part, has expressed its concerns over North Koreas support to Pakistans nuclear programme. While making it clear that India followed an independent foreign policy independent of North Koreas problems with the United States officials cautioned Pyongyang against further isolating itself.