Korea today said here that all countries affected by the ADIZ enforced by the China should sit together and try to find out an amicable solution to the issue.
Speaking at a seminar on "Expanding India-ROK Partnership: Prospects and Challenges" at Observer Research Foundation, Republic of Korea's Ambassador to India, Mr Joon-gyu Lee, said "ADIZ is not a territorial issue. It is an issue more of sentiment. So, all the countries should sit together and try to find out a solution".
He said that the recent statement of China against Korea was really targeted at a different country.
The Ambassador said it is possible to find an amicable solution to the ADIZ issue as the issue was not territorial.
Noting that a meaningful strategic relation can only flourish on the strength of robust economic relations, the Ambassador stressed the need for upgrading the CEPA and creating the right environment for bringing in manufacturing sector to India.
He said with the POSCO project finally taking off after 9-year delays, it is the right time for the Korean companies to invest in India as no Korean company can afford to ignore Indian market.
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Responding to a question on Korea-Japan relations, the Ambassador said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is repeatedly provoking Korea which likes to have friendly relations with its neighbour. Noting that Japan-Korea territorial dispute is a very small matter over the tiny rocky island of Dokuto (Takeshima in Japan), he said both the countries should sort out this issue to improve their relations.
He said what the Korean people want from Japan is a sincere apology from the bottom of the heart for the World War crimes, and nothing more than that.
The Ambassador also made it clear that Korea is not against India becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
He said what Korea is not supporting is the UNSC reforms as such. He pointed out that already there are five permanent members in the UNSC and differences within them do create problems. More members therefore would result in more problems, the Ambassador said, adding that is why Korea is against the expansion of the UNSC.
The Ambassador underlined the need for balancing the trade between Korea and India, which is heavily in favour of Korea now, to boost bilateral economic relations.
He said to balance the trade, it is necessary that manufacture of its products needs to be shifted to India, from Korea and China, as pointed out by some experts at the seminar.
He said the problem in bringing more Korean companies to India was the "slow" style of functioning in India.
However, he said there is great potential for cooperation in different fields, including civil nuclear components, defence cooperation, especially shipbuilding, etc.
