Canada can help ease tension between North Korea, US: expert
Posted October 28, 2017 10:12 am.
Last Updated October 28, 2017 10:13 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA, ON. (NEWS 1130) – Canada and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could have a role in helping calm things down between North Korea and the US, according to an expert from BC.
Professor of Korean Studies at UBC Don Baker doesn’t feel now is the time to panic about the possibility of nuclear war.
However, he adds the problem is North Korea doesn’t want to talk until they think they have military parity with the US.
“We could try to get North Korea and the US talking to each other.”
Baker says since Canada has diplomatic relations with North Korea, he would like to see an ambassador back in South Korea who could service the north. “You can’t tell either one of those people, Kim Jong-Un or Donald Trump, what to do. So, I think Trudeau is playing the best role he can play right now. I really wish though, since we do have diplomatic relations with North Korea, I wish we would send an ambassador back there. We had an ambassador going there for a while.”
He adds he’s more worried now than during the 1960’s about a war breaking out on the Korean peninsula.
This weekend US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis is visiting South Korea, where he says their two countries will try to work together to deter the ongoing North Korean threat. “We must recognize the reality that this is a regime… that threatens peace and stability and certainly directly against the people of the [Republic of Korea.]”
Mattis feels North Korea engages in what he calls “outlaw” behaviour.
