SEOUL– Vice ministerial talks between South Korea and India were canceled Wednesday after India’s delegation came into contact with a ruling party lawmaker who later tested positive for COVID-19, the foreign ministry said.

The two countries had planned to hold the 5th Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue, led by First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun and his Indian counterpart, Riva Ganguly Das, secretary (east) of the ministry of external affairs.

But the talks had to be called off as Rep. Lim Jong-seong of the ruling Democratic Party, who met with Das earlier this week, was confirmed to have been infected with the virus earlier in the day and the Indian delegation was told by health authorities to cancel all face-to-face meetings pending tests.

Her planned courtesy call on Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong was also canceled.

Lim serves as vice chairman of the South Korea-India friendship association and had a meeting with Das and Indian Ambassador to South Korea Sripriya Ranganathan at the National Assembly on Monday.

Source: Yonhap News Agency