This paper attempts to explain the origins and evolution of India's Korean policy since its independence. India's Korean policy during the Korean crisis mainly revolved around its commitment to non-alignment in which India adopted a neutral stance. After initially pursuing a non-alignment policy, there was a gradual shift away from this early neutralism towards a policy in which India seemed to be more inclined towards North Korea than to South Korea. The end of the Cold War brought about a remarkable change in India's Korean policy, as it forged a new India-South Korea partnership. As a result of this, India improved its relationship with the South, whereas its interaction with the North remained minimal. Now it seems that India's Korean policy is entering a new phase in which it is seeking to deepen its security and economic ties with South Korea, and is showing a fresh enthusiasm to resolve the Korean issue. What factors have accounted for the evolution of India's Korean policy over the last seventy years? The paper employs a binary approach to examine such a complex and intricate phenomenon, and argues that a combination of external and domestic factors have influenced the origins and evolution of India's Korean policy. This study is based mainly on primary sources.
