India is expected to seek the support of Nuclear Suppliers Group member South Korea for its civilian nuclear ambitions when External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee travels there on Sunday from Bangkok.
The nuclear issue is expected to come up during the talks Mukherjee will have with the Korean leadership.
India will require the support of South Korea as it has to seek change of NSG guidelines by consensus to allow international community to have nuclear trade with it.
A South Korean envoy had earlier this week warned that the Indo-US civil nuclear deal could set a bad precedent for North Korea.
"The United States has made an exception for India and I am afraid North Korea will come back and ask: Why not us?" said Chun Yung-Woo, Seoul's chief negotiator to six-party talks on terminating North Korea's controversial nuclear programme.
Mukherjee will hold talks with his Korean counterpart Song Min-Soon during which they will also assess progress made in the discussions on an updated double taxation avoidance agreement and a comprehensive economic partnership pact.
The volume of trade between India and Korea is currently $7.1 billion, which is targeted to be raised to $10 billion next year.
South Korea is the ninth largest foreign investor in India and the two countries have established a framework to facilitate further investment.
Korean steel major POSCO has announced an investment of $12 billion, the largest single foreign investment in India, for an integrated plant at Paradeep in Orissa with a 12 million tonne capacity.
The two sides will also discuss measures to simplify visa rules, particularly for business people travelling to the Korea.
Regional and multilateral issues are also expected to come up for discussions. pointing out that the two countries are partners in the ARF, East-Asia Summit.
India's export basket to Korea comprises mainly cotton yarn, fabrics, ores and minerals, iron & steel, dyes, machinery and instruments.
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