[4] However India has implemented the United Nations Security Council economic sanctions and has ceased most trade with North Korea in April 2017.

[5] India is a critic of North Korea's nuclear proliferation record and has also voiced concerns of de-nuclearization and disarmament.

According to the 13th century chronicle Samguk Yusa, the ancient Korean queen Heo Hwang-ok came from a kingdom called "Ayuta".

He wrote a travelogue of his journey in Chinese, Wang ocheonchukguk jeon or "An account of travel to the five Indian kingdoms".

After falling out with them, he moved to Yuan dynasty China and received a Korean woman as his wife and a job from the Mongol Emperor, the woman was formerly 桑哥 Sangha's wife and her father was 蔡仁揆 채송년 Ch'ae In'gyu during the reign of 忠烈 Chungnyeol of Goryeo, recorded in the Dongguk Tonggam, Goryeosa and 留夢炎 Liu Mengyan's 中俺集 Zhong'anji.

This poem is popular even today: "In the golden age of Asia, Korea was one of its lamp bearers and That lamp is waiting to be lighted once again for the illumination in the East"[16] India condemned North Korea as an aggressor when the Korean War started, supporting Security Council resolutions 82 and 83 on the crisis.

Instead, India gave its moral support for the UN action and decided to send a medical unit to Korea as a humanitarian gesture.

In 1999, India impounded a North Korean ship off the Kandla coast that was found to be carrying missile components and blueprints.

Also Indian Government has asked the existing investment transactions to be liquidated within a period of 180 days from the date of notification.

[24][25] Due to UNSC sanctions resolutions, trade except food and medicine, with DPRK with effect from April 2017 is restricted.

[26] In 2002 and 2004, India contributed 2000 tonnes of food grains to help North Korea tide over severe famine-like conditions.

"WFP has intensified the South-South and Triangular cooperation as an avenue to enhance support to the DPRK and has received a contribution from the Government of India of $1 million for its in-country operations," the report said.

The aid package was handed over to North Korean authorities by the Indian ambassador to the DPRK, Atul Malhari Gotsurve.