Canada–North Korea relations

Last updated

Canada–North Korea relations
Canada North Korea Locator.png
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
Canada 		Flag of North Korea.svg
North Korea

Relations between Canada and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (commonly known as North Korea) are very limited, as Canada suspended full diplomatic relations in 2010 over North Korea's destabilizing nuclear activity. Travel and commerce with North Korea are discouraged by the Canadian government and there is very little trade or diplomatic contact due to Canada's perspective that North Korea plays a destabilizing role in the Asia Pacific region. [1] [2]

Contents

Although diplomatic relations between Canada and North Korea were established in February 2001, diplomatic relations between the two countries have generally been strained due to Canada's close relationship with the United States, and Canada's staunch opposition to North Korea's nuclear ambitions and programs, and as a result, contact between them has been almost non-existent throughout history. Consequently, there has never been an official embassy built in either of the two nations. Full diplomatic relations were suspended by Canada in 2010 and replaced by a Controlled Engagement Policy limiting official bilateral contact to specific topics. [2] Canada is officially represented by the Ambassador of Canada to Korea resident in the South Korean capital Seoul, and North Korea is represented through their permanent representative to the United Nations in New York. Sweden acts as the protecting power for Canadian citizens that travel to North Korea. [3] North Korea has requested for an ambassador and mission to be created, but Canada has declined. [4]

According to a 2013 BBC World Service Poll, only 7% of Canadians view North Korea's influence positively, with 79% expressing a negative view. [5]

History

Contact between Canada and Korea dates back to the 19th century when Canadians were among the first Westerners to arrive on the Korean Peninsula. Most of them were Christian missionaries, though they branched out into other fields of work. Reverend James Scarth Gale created the Korean-English Dictionary which became the first and most essential tool for the scholarly study of Korea in the West. His translation of the Bible into Korean constituted the foundation of Korean Christianity. Another Canadian, Dr. Oliver R. Avison, was the personal physician to King Kojong and is considered the founder of modern medical knowledge in Korea. Official contact began in 1947 when Canada participated in the United Nations Commission overseeing election in Korea. Canada formally recognized the Republic of Korea in 1949 and the Democratic People's Republic in 2000.

When the war broke out between North and South Korea in 1950, Canada sent 26,971 military personnel to Korea as part of United Nations Command, the third largest contingent behind the United States and the United Kingdom; 516 Canadians died in the war.

On 25 May 2010, Canada suspended diplomatic relations with North Korea over its alleged role in the sinking of ROKS Cheonan. [6]

Canadian NGOs

CanKor is one organization contributing to the dialogue over Canada's role with DPR Korea. [7]

Humanitarian aid

There are a small number of organizations providing aid to DPR Korea. First Steps [8] is a Vancouver-based Christian development organization.

Canadian Foodgrains Bank [9] is a partnership of Canadian churches and church-based agencies.

Mennonite Central Committee is also a well known organization that provides aid to the impoverished Korean nation. [10]

Advocacy organizations

HanVoice is a Canadian non-profit organization that was first established to support the resettlement of DPR Korean refugees in Canada and has grown over the years to become the largest Canadian organization advocating for improved human rights in North Korea. Today, the organization supports DPRK refugees resettle in the Greater Toronto Area, finances on-the-ground humanitarian initiatives in DPR Korea and works with leading politicians and policy experts to promote the human rights agenda.

Canadian academic institutions

UBC's Institute of Asian Research houses the Centre for Korean Research. In 1993, the centre was established as a constituent part of the Institute of Asian Research. It was established to facilitate multidisciplinary research on Korea.

York University provides a focus on North Korea through its York Centre for Asian Research, [11] Korean Studies Group. [11] This group brings the study of South Korea, DPR Korea, and the Korean diaspora together, investigating the formation of the national division and shifting boundaries of the nation. Drawing scholars together from different disciplines, it seeks to develop a comparative perspective that places Korean affairs in dialogue with historical, global and theoretical changes.

The University of Toronto houses the Centre for the Study of Korea, Asian Institute, Munk School of Global Affairs. [12] The centre was established in the fall of 2006 with the goal of promoting critical approaches to the research of Korea.

Friendship organizations

The Korean Friendship Association is also active in Canada, hosting events such as leafleting, movies, educationals, and other projects to help show the DPRK and promote solidarity. The Official Delegate of Canada for the KFA is Comrade Trevor Spencer.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Cambodia</span>

The Cambodian government has diplomatic relations with most countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, as well as all of its Asian neighbors, including China, India, Vietnam, Laos, South Korea, and Thailand. The government is a member of most major international organizations, including the United Nations and its specialized agencies such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The government is an Asian Development Bank (ADB) member, a member of ASEAN, and of the WTO. In 2005 Cambodia attended the inaugural East Asia Summit. The government is also a member of the Pacific Alliance and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of North Korea</span>

The foreign relations of North Korea – officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) – have been shaped by its conflict with South Korea and its historical ties with world communism. Both the government of North Korea and the government of South Korea claim to be the sole legitimate government of the whole of Korea. The Korean War in the 1950s failed to resolve the issue, leaving North Korea locked in a military confrontation with South Korea and the United States Forces Korea across the Demilitarized Zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand–North Korea relations</span> Bilateral relations

New Zealand–North Korea relations refers to international relations between New Zealand and North Korea. Relations between the two countries have been almost non-existent since the division of Korea. During the Korean War in the 1950s, New Zealand troops fought as part of the United Nations force that repelled the North Korean invasion of South Korea. Since then, New Zealand and North Korea have had little contact, until July 2000 when North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Phil Goff met in Bangkok, leading to the establishment of diplomatic relations in March 2001. The New Zealand ambassador to South Korea based in Seoul is also cross-accredited to North Korea. In 2006, North Korea tested its first nuclear weapon, drawing criticism and suspension of relations by the New Zealand government, which holds a staunch anti-nuclear policy. New Zealand began re-establishing formal relations in 2007, when the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters visited Pyongyang on November 20 to discuss possible political and economic deals with North Korea, on the basis that it start dismantling its nuclear weapons facilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Korea–Poland relations</span> Bilateral relations

Poland–North Korean relations are foreign relations between Poland and North Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denmark–North Korea relations</span> Bilateral relations

Denmark–North Korea relations refers to the current and historical relations between Denmark and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea. Denmark is represented in the DPRK, through its embassy in Beijing, China. The DPRK is represented in Denmark, through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Denmark supports the efforts to get North Korea back to the six-party talks. In October 2020, a documentary by Mads Brügger about Ulrich Larsen - The Mole, a Danish chef who infiltrated North Korea for 10 years in the documentary The Mole: Undercover in North Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India–North Korea relations</span> Bilateral relations

India–North Korea relations, also called Indian-North Korean relations or Indo-North Korean relations, are the bilateral relations between India and North Korea. Both countries have growing trade and diplomatic relations. India maintains an embassy in Pyongyang, and North Korea has an embassy in New Delhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Germany–North Korea relations</span> Bilateral relations

Germany–North Korea relations are the bilateral relations between Germany and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea. During the Cold War, East Germany maintained diplomatic relations only with North Korea, while West Germany maintained diplomatic relations only with South Korea. East Germany ceased to exist upon German reunification, which meant that diplomatic relations no longer existed between Germany and North Korea. The two countries appointed protecting powers to represent their interests in the other country, Sweden being the protecting power for Germany, and China being the protecting power for North Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia–North Korea relations</span> Bilateral relations

Current and historical bilateral relations exist between Australia and North Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Korea–Philippines relations</span> Bilateral relations

The North Korea–Philippines relations relates to the diplomatic relationship of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embassy of the United Kingdom, Pyongyang</span>

The British Embassy Pyongyang is the British sovereign's diplomatic mission to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, representing the United Kingdom's interests. It is located in the Munsu-dong diplomatic compound, where most of the diplomatic missions to North Korea are located, with the exception of the Russian and Chinese missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iceland–North Korea relations</span> Bilateral relations

Iceland–North Korea relations refers to the current and historical relationship between Iceland and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea. Neither nation maintains an embassy in their respective capitals. Instead, the Icelandic ambassador in Beijing is also accredited to North Korea, while the North Korean ambassador in Stockholm is accredited to Iceland. The Swedish embassy in Pyongyang handles visa matters on behalf of Iceland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burkina Faso–North Korea relations</span> Bilateral relations

Burkina Faso–North Korea relations(Korean:부르끼나파소-조선인민민주주의공화국 관계) refers to the current and historical relationship between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Burkina Faso. Neither country maintains an embassy in the other, although the DPRK formerly had an ambassador accredited in the Burkinabé capital Ouagadougou.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Korea–Singapore relations</span> Bilateral relations

North Korea–Singapore relations are bilateral relations between North Korea and Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Korea–Norway relations</span> Bilateral relations

North Korea–Norway relations refers to the current and historical relationship between Norway and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea. Neither country maintains an embassy in the other, although North Korea formerly had an embassy in the Norwegian capital Oslo. The Norwegian ambassador in Seoul is also accredited to North Korea, as is the North Korean one in Stockholm to Norway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comoros–North Korea relations</span> Bilateral relations

Comoros–North Korea relations refers to the current and historical relationship between the Comoros and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea. Neither nation maintains an embassy in their respective capitals. Formerly the DPRK had an ambassador stationed in Moroni.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finland–North Korea relations</span> Bilateral relations

Finland–North Korea relations are bilateral relations between Finland and North Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Korea–European Union relations</span> Bilateral relations

European Union–North Korea relations are the foreign relations between the European Union and the country of North Korea. Bilateral relations between North Korea and the EU date back to the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Korea–Spain relations</span> Bilateral relations

North Korea–Spain relations(Korean: 에스빠냐-조선민주주의인민공화국 관계) are the bilateral and diplomatic relations between these two countries. North Korea opened an embassy in Spain in 2014, although the embassy does not engage in consular affairs as there are no North Korean civilians currently residing in Spain. Spain does not have an embassy in North Korea, but its embassy in South Korea operates for matters related to Spanish citizens who intend to travel to North Korea. In addition, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends its registration at the Seoul embassy, given the possibility that relations between the two Koreas, already delicate, may worsen at any time. That is why Spain considers the entire territory of North Korea as a risk zone for Spanish citizens traveling to this country.

References

  1. ↑ "Travel Advice and Advisories for Korea, North (DPRK)". Global Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 26 January 2017. Global Affairs Canada advises against all travel to North Korea (officially named the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) due to the uncertain security situation caused by North Korea's nuclear weapons development program and highly repressive regime.
  2. 1 2 "Canada - Democratic People's Republic of Korea Relations". Embassy of Canada to Korea. Government of Canada. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "The Embassy". Embassy of Sweden, Pyongyang. Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 26 January 2017. Sweden provides different services for a number of foreign countries in North Korea. In particular, Sweden functions as Protective Power for the United States, Australia and Canada, including consular responsibility for citizens.
  4. ↑ Ling, Philip; Harris, Kathleen (10 August 2017). "Canadian pastor's release from North Korean prison result of long diplomatic negotiation: source". CBC News. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  5. ↑ 2013 World Service Poll Archived 10 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine BBC
  6. ↑ "North Korea to sever ties with South | CBC News". Associated Press via CBC News. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  7. ↑ "Canadian Law Blog – Legal Tips & Resources". Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  8. ↑ http://www2.firststepscanada.org Archived 26 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine First Steps
  9. ↑ http://www.foodgrainsbank.ca Food Grains
  10. ↑ http://mcc.org Mennonites
  11. 1 2 "York Centre for Asian Research – YCAR" . Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  12. ↑ "Centre for the Study of Korea". munkschool.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.