Canada – North Korea relations
Encyclopedia
Canada
and North Korea
share very small trade due to the destabilizing element North Korea has caused in the Asia Pacific region. Although diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on February 2001, they were suspended in May, 2010 and there are no official embassies between the two nations.
Activities between the two are restricted to humanitarian aid only. Travel and commerce with North Korea is discouraged. But nevertheless, Canadians are able to contact the British embassy in Pyongyang if they want to visit North Korea.
Canada is represented by The Canadian Ambassador resident in Seoul
, and North Korea is represented through their position in the United Nations.
dates back to the 19th century when Canadians were some of the first Westerners to arrive on the Korean peninsula, a majority of whom were Christian missionaries
, though they branched out into other fields of work. Rev. Canadian James S. Gale created the Korean-English Dictionary which became the first and most essential tool for the scholarly study of Korea in the West; and whose translation of the Bible into the Korean language 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, and Canada formally recognized the Republic of Korea in 1949.
When the war broke out between North Korea and South Korea
in 1950, Canada sent 26,971 military personnel to the Korean peninsula as part of a United Nations force, the third largest contingent behind the United States and the United Kingdom. 516 Canadians died in the war and 378 Canadians lie buried in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery near Pusan.
As of 25 May 2010, Canada has suspended diplomatic relations with North Korea, over alleged sinking of ROKS Cheonan
.
Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of Canadian churches and church-based agencies.
Mennonite Central Committee .
York University provides a focus on North Korea through its York Centre for Asian Research , Korean Studies Group . This group brings the study of South Korea, North 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 . The Centre was established in the fall of 2006 with the goal of promoting critical approaches to the research of Korea.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
share very small trade due to the destabilizing element North Korea has caused in the Asia Pacific region. Although diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on February 2001, they were suspended in May, 2010 and there are no official embassies between the two nations.
Activities between the two are restricted to humanitarian aid only. Travel and commerce with North Korea is discouraged. But nevertheless, Canadians are able to contact the British embassy in Pyongyang if they want to visit North Korea.
Canada is represented by The Canadian Ambassador resident in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, and North Korea is represented through their position in the United Nations.
History
Contact between Canada and KoreaKorea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
dates back to the 19th century when Canadians were some of the first Westerners to arrive on the Korean peninsula, a majority of whom were Christian missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
, though they branched out into other fields of work. Rev. Canadian James S. Gale created the Korean-English Dictionary which became the first and most essential tool for the scholarly study of Korea in the West; and whose translation of the Bible into the Korean language 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
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
overseeing election in Korea, and Canada formally recognized the Republic of Korea in 1949.
When the war broke out between North Korea and South Korea
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
in 1950, Canada sent 26,971 military personnel to the Korean peninsula as part of a United Nations force, the third largest contingent behind the United States and the United Kingdom. 516 Canadians died in the war and 378 Canadians lie buried in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery near Pusan.
As of 25 May 2010, Canada has suspended diplomatic relations with North Korea, over alleged sinking of ROKS Cheonan
ROKS Cheonan sinking
The ROKS Cheonan sinking occurred on 26 March 2010, when the Cheonan, a South Korean Navy ship carrying 104 personnel, sank off the country's west coast near Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, killing 46 seamen...
.
Canadian NGOs
One organization contributing to the dialogue over Canada's role with North Korea is CanKor .Humanitarian aid
There are a small number of organizations providing aid to North Korea. First Steps is a Vancouver-based Christian development organization.Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of Canadian churches and church-based agencies.
Mennonite Central Committee .
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 research on Korea through multidisciplinary approaches.York University provides a focus on North Korea through its York Centre for Asian Research , Korean Studies Group . This group brings the study of South Korea, North 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 . The Centre was established in the fall of 2006 with the goal of promoting critical approaches to the research of Korea.