India and South Korea also discussed outer space security-related matters during their consultations on disarmament and non-proliferation
India and South Korea on Friday held consultations in Seoul on disarmament and non-proliferation relating to nuclear, chemical, and biological domains, as well as regional non-proliferation issues.
 
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two sides also discussed outer space security-related matters, conventional weapons including AI in the military domain and multilateral export control regimes.
 
At the disarmament and non-proliferation consultations, while the Indian delegation was led by Muanpuii Saiawi, Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs, South Korean delegation was led by Youn Jong Kwon, Director General for Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
Warm and friendly relations
 
India and South Korea share warm and friendly relations with high-level visits further imparting dynamism and vitality to bilateral engagements between the two countries.
 
On March 5-6, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar landed in Seoul to attend the 10th Korea-India Joint Commission Meeting (JCM).
 
The JCM offered both sides a platform to comprehensively review bilateral cooperation under India-South Korea Special Strategic Partnership in areas of trade, investments, development cooperation, defence and security, science and technology, culture and people-to-people exchange, the MEA said.

At the meeting, the two sides also explored ways to further extend cooperation to new areas such as critical & emerging technologies, semiconductors, green hydrogen, human resource mobility and resilient supply chains, working both bilaterally and together with other countries, the ministry said.
 
The discussions also covered developments of common interest and concern in the shared Indo-Pacific region. They also shared perspectives on their respective Indo-Pacific visions and strategies and noted the commonality in their initiatives for the region, the MEA added.
 
Civilizational and cultural ties
 
India also shares age-old civilizational and cultural ties with South Korea. During his two-day visit to South Korea, EAM Jaishankar met a delegation led by the Mayor of Gimhae  City, a Sister City of Ayodhya.
 
India shares an ancient bond of kinship with the Korean people, manifested by Princess Suriratna from Ayodhya, who is known as Queen Heo Hwang-ok in South Korea.
 
EAM Jaishankar also received from revered Monk Domyung a book penned by him on Korea's historical and cultural association with ancient India and Buddhism.

The EAM visited a special exhibition showcasing India's rich Buddhist heritage at the prestigious National Museum of Korea.
 
The EAM’s visit to South Korea, soon after our countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations, provided an opportunity to create new pathways to further strengthen the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries, the MEA said.
 
Trade and economic ties
 
Trade and economic relations between the two countries gathered momentum following the implementation of CEPA in 2010. Bilateral trade in 2022 reached record levels of $27.8 billion. India’s import volume stands at $18.8 billion, while the export volume stood at $9 billion. Bilateral trade in 2023 (January–October) stands at $20.43 billion.
 
India’s import volume stands at $14.8 billion, while the export volume is $5.6 billion. Major items of India’s exports to South Korea are mineral fuels/oil distillates (mainly naphtha), cereals, iron, and steel. South Korea’s main export items are automobile parts, telecommunication equipment, hot rolled iron products, petroleum refined products, base lubricating oils, mechanical appliances, electrical machinery and parts and iron and steel products.