Prime Minister Stephen Harper has sent Canada's ambassador to South Korea to Pyongyang to help put pressure on North Korea to back down from its nuclear weapons program.
The move came Saturday as Harper and other leaders attended the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Hanoi.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Korean President Roh Moo-hyun attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hanoi Saturday.
(Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)
The media learned of the mission assigned to Marius Grinius from a briefing by South Korean officials after Harper met with their president, Roh Moo-hyun, earlier Saturday.
Grinius is "now in North Korea and plans to deliver a strong message for the resolution of the nuclear issue," Roh's office said in a statement.
"The message he is delivering is frank and clear: give up the nuclear missile tests and return to the six-party talks," an unidentified Canadian official told Reuters.
Ottawa is urging Pyongyang to abide by a 2005 UN resolution to abandon its nuclear program in exchange for security and aid.
Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific leaders in Hanoi have agreed on a statement against North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
Bush wins support for statement on N. Korea
U.S. President George W. Bush, in Hanoi for the APEC summit, has been working to preserve U.S. solidarity with five nations getting ready to restart nuclear negotiations with Pyongyang.
The 21 Pacific Rim members were expected to issue a statement on Saturday expressing their worries about North Korea's first nuclear test on Oct. 9 and its missile launches in July.
"I think we're pleased with that statement and I think it will be a good contribution to the diplomacy," U.S. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley told reporters.
While pleased with the statement, Bush failed to win South Korea's support for intercepting ships suspected of carrying supplies possibly bound for North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
With files from the Associated PressRelated
Internal Links
Video
- Michel Cormier reports for CBC-TV (Runs: 2:23)
play: real »
play: quicktime »
play: real »
More World Headlines »
- Canadian soldier killed, 2 injured in southern Afghanistan
- A Canadian soldier was killed and two others were injured when their light armoured vehicle hit a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan, the military said Wednesday.
- Kenya opposition calls off rally after Annan meeting
- Opposition leaders in Kenya agreed to a request by former UN chief Kofi Annan on Wednesday to cancel a plan to resume rallies against last month's disputed election, according to media reports.
- Rebel groups sign pact with Democratic Republic of Congo
- Insurgent leaders have signed a symbolic peace treaty with the government of Democratic Republic of Congo. The pact aims to end years of violence in the country's eastern area.
- Palestinians flood into Egypt after blowing holes in border wall
- Tens of thousands of Palestinians crossed into Egypt early Wednesday in search of food and fuel after militants blew holes in the metal wall separating Egypt from the Gaza Strip.
- Germany's last WWI veteran died without fanfare: Der Spiegel
- The last known German veteran of the First World War reportedly died weeks ago but — unlike the fanfare accorded to such veterans in other countries — Erich Kastner's death passed almost unnoticed.
World Features
Blog Watch
Most Blogged about CBC.ca Articles
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - link will open in new window