NEWS RELEASES
CANADA ANNOUNCES RECOGNITION OF DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA FOLLOWING BILATERAL TALKS IN BANGKOK
July 26, 2000 (2:55 p.m. EDT) No. 184
CANADA ANNOUNCES RECOGNITION OF DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S
REPUBLIC OF KOREA FOLLOWING BILATERAL TALKS IN BANGKOK
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced, following a very productive
meeting with Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun of the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK), that Canada formally recognizes the DPRK as a state and member of
the international community. In addition, the Ministers agreed to begin technical
discussions leading to the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries
as soon as feasible. Mr. Axworthy made the announcement in Bangkok, Thailand,
where he and his counterpart from the DPRK are attending the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum.
The Ministers consulted on a broad range of topics, including peace and security, trade
and investment, economic development and cultural and academic relations.
"For some time now, the DPRK has been reaching out to the international community
and attempting to increase the number of countries with which it has foreign relations,"
said Mr. Axworthy. "Canada welcomes this initiative, and intends to assist the DPRK to
integrate itself into international affairs."
The Minister welcomed the participation of the DPRK in its first ASEAN Regional Forum
meeting and underlined the importance of the forum to regional security. He also noted
that Prime Minister Chrétien and his G-8 counterparts had issued a statement on the
Korean Peninsula on July 21, in Okinawa Japan, which welcomed the recent Inter-Korean Summit between DPRK leader Kim Jong Il and Republic of Korea President
Kim Dae Jung; encouraged both leaders to reduce tensions and establish peace on the
Korean Peninsula; supported the Republic of Korea's engagement policy and welcomed
the constructive attitude shown by the DPRK.
Finally, Mr. Axworthy pointed out that this was the first ministerial-level meeting between
the Canadian and DPRK governments.
The historic meeting is one of the last steps in a process of formalizing bilateral relations
initiated by the Government of Canada in 1998 when Mr. Axworthy endorsed a more
active engagement approach toward the DPRK. Since that time, contacts between both
countries' embassies in Beijing have steadily increased, and five bilateral missions have
taken place over the last 10 months. These included two Canadian missions to the
DPRK to lay the groundwork for today's ministerial meeting and the hosting of three
official and unofficial delegations from the DPRK. These encounters were aimed at
building mutual understanding and conveying key policy views, with a particular
emphasis on regional security.
"This is a much anticipated moment for both countries," said Mr. Axworthy. "I look
forward to establishing official channels of diplomatic communication in order to broaden
and deepen understanding and relations between our two countries."
Prior to today's announcement, Canada did not recognize the DPRK, nor did the two
countries have diplomatic relations. Despite this fact, Canadian non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) have been active in the country since the mid-1990s when the
international community became aware of extreme food shortages. Since 1997, the
Canadian International Development Agency has also made humanitarian food aid
donations to the DPRK, which it has channelled through the United Nation's World Food
Program and Canadian NGOs. These assistance programs have resulted in over
$30 million in assistance to date.
In addition, academics from several Canadian universities have pursued contacts with
their DPRK counterparts since 1990. These informal institutional links facilitated the
rapprochement between both countries.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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