Recent political developments between India and South Korea have created an opening to share mutual security interests in Asia.
However, cultural and political differences could present a challenge to forging effective regional ties.
What are the recent developments?
South Korea - There is rising tension with China, concerning the US-supplied missile and radar deployment in its territory.
The prolonged confrontation with China on the deployment of Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) constrained the relationship.
The pros and cons of THAAD is debated among the US, South Korea, and China in terms of its purpose and application.
Bilateral - South Korea is taking a bold step by inviting India into South Korea’s diplomatic domain.
South Korean President dispatched a special envoy to Prime Minister Modi to reinforce bilateral relations.
It reiterated its message of placing India on par with the US, Russia, China, and Japan.
It expressed its desire for stronger security cooperation with India in designing various levels of official talks more regularly.
It played a critical role in moderating opposing members in India’s application for the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group’s membership in a plenary meeting.
India, on its part, started building an increasingly incompatible stance toward North Korea.
It also implemented a plan to launch a strategic initiative, ‘Korea Plus’ to facilitate Korean FDI and forge larger economic cooperation.
At Seoul’s request, it discontinued the provision of training courses to North Korean students in the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific, Dehradun.
It also suspended the training of North Korean soldiers in Indian languages in a Madhya Pradesh-based military school.
What are the common interests?
Regional Stability - The regional tensions in South Asia especially between India and China create a common interest for India and South Korea.
This could be a collaborative approach for regional stability.
Nuclear - South Korea’s key interest in managing their nuclear neighbour (North Korea) is similar to India’s considerations toward Pakistan.
The US alliance system, established with South Korea and Japan, puts pressure on North Korea to cap its nuclear programme.
Containing North Korea is beneficial to India’s economic and regional ambit in East Asia.
It also adds to its approach to nuclear non-proliferation regime as a responsible nuclear state.
Diplomatic - There is long lasting regional security dilemma with the continued verbal provocations and a conventional arms race.
Thus, despite the alliance system, Seoul appears to be in searching for a stronger diplomatic stand on imminent regional issues beyond the alliance system.
South Korea's approach to India comes with strategic optimism for expanding ties to ensure a convergence of interest in planning global and regional strategic frameworks.
What lies ahead?
Thus South Korea's approach to India under these circumstances is a gesture towards balancing East Asian affairs more broadly than before.
In all, the strategic ties between Seoul and New Delhi present promise for mutual interest as well as regional stability.
However, the incipient stage of growing ties requires more careful study to overcome a number of shortcomings.
The emerging political interests and motivations between the two countries still lag behind the regional and global demand.
Moderating the dissimilar style of diplomacy and communication under cultural differences is another task.
