New Delhi (Sputnik) — India's Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Tuesday said that those helping North Korea in its nuclear and missile proliferation should be held accountable, in what is being seen as an indirect reference to the alleged role of Pakistan and China.
During her first foreign trip as defense minister at the ASEAN Defense Ministers' meeting in the Philippines, Nirmala Sitharaman said that North Korea's nuclear tests have triggered serious concern in the region.
"It is important that North Korea's (DPRK) proliferation linkages are investigated and those who have supported its nuclear and missile program are held accountable," Sitharaman said.
Defence Minister @nsitharaman at the 4th #ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus), in Philippines pic.twitter.com/SOrYUgyYSU
— PIB India (@PIB_India) 24 октября 2017 г.
The Indian defense minister also warned world leaders of the evolving global challenges and asked them to be prepared for military and non-traditional threats.
"New developments in social media and cyberspace have expanded the threat, as these are exploited by terrorists to develop less visible but lethal ways and means of manipulating peoples' minds," she added.
ADMM-Plus is an annual meeting that brings together the defense ministers of ten ASEAN countries and eight "dialogue partners" which include India, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States.
