Canada to co-host meeting on North Korea crisis with United States

Canada will co-host a meeting about the ongoing crisis in North Koreaas tensions in the region continue to escalate.

Foreign ministers from more than a dozen countries will be invited to Canada to discuss diplomatic solutions to challenges posed by the rogue regime.

A source tells CBCNewsthe government has recognized that the rhetoric around North Korea is turning toward a military solution, and that it wants to strongly advocate for a diplomatic solution instead.

The source also says Canada understands that the western part of thiscountry is within missile range, and that North Korea remains a significant threat.

The announcement of the planned meeting, which will likely happen in the new year,comesthe same day thatNorth Korea launched yet another ballistic missile.

"Canada condemns in the strongest terms North Korea's continued ballistic missile launches, in direct violation of many United Nations Security Council resolutions," Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement.

"This latest launch is a reckless and dangerous act that threatens regional and global security."

Talks are expected to go beyond sanctions and other traditional methods of applying pressure, the source added.

Pacific solidarity

While the gathering will be heldin Canada, it will be co-hosted with officials from the United States.

A second source says Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freelandand her U.S. counterpart Rex Tillerson first started discussing the possibility of a meeting back in September.

Representatives from all 16of the "sending nations"that provided troopsduring the Korean War will be invited, including Australia, France, South Africaand the U.K.

'We really believe a diplomatic solution is both possible and essential'

7 years ago

Duration 8:11

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland joins Chris Hall to discuss Canadas role in addressing the North Korea nuclear crisis.

Foreign ministers from countries with interests in the region are also expected to be invited, including Japan, South Koreaand China.

The second source says Canada hosting the event makes sense, geographically, and that some invitees may have been unwilling to travel to the U.S.

"Canada believes that a diplomatic solution to the North Korea crisis is essential and possible," Freeland said in a statement.