New Delhi: External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Dec 18, 2004) in the backdrop of the controversy created over his remarks in South Korea on India's nuclear policy.

PMO sources said the Minister's discussions with the Prime Minister related to the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who will arrive in New Delhi tomorrow on a five-day state visit.

Returning from a three-day visit to Seoul, the External Affairs Minister drove straight to the Prime Minister's residence for the half-hour meeting.

Taking strong exception to Natwar Singh's remarks in an interview to "Korea Times" on India crossing the nuclear threshold during the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) regime, the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) had demanded a statement from the Prime Minister in Parliament.

Manmohan Singh said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday that India was a responsible nuclear power and that his assessment of Natwar Singh's reported remarks appeared to be in context to questions from journalists and were not a policy statement.