Mukherjee in Seoul to discuss N-deal

SEOUL: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrived here on a three-day visit to South Korea during which the two sides are expected to discuss the civil nuclear issue besides exploring ways to enhance defence, trade and economic ties.

Mukherjee, who arrived here from Bangkok after a three-day visit, will hold talks with his South Korean counterpart Song Min-Soon on a wide range of bilateral issues and regional matters of mutual interest.

Mukherjee will also call on President Roh Moo-hyun and meet Defence Minister Kim Jang-soo.

During the discussions, the Indian side is expected to seek the support of South Korea, a member of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), for its civil nuclear ambitions in the backdrop of conclusion of Indo-US agreement for cooperation in the field recently.

India will require the support of South Korea as it has to seek a change in NSG guidelines by consensus to allow the international community to engage in nuclear trade with it.

Significantly, a few days back, South Korea had voiced criticism of the Indo-US nuclear deal, claiming that it will have an impact on talks aimed at persuading North Korea to shed its atomic ambitions.

A South Korean envoy warned that the Indo-US civil nuclear deal could set a bad precedent for North Korea.

"The United States has made an exception for India and I am afraid North Korea will come back and ask: 'Why not us?'" said Chun Yung-Woo, Seoul's chief negotiator to six-party talks on terminating North Korea's controversial nuclear programme.