PITCHING IN FOR PEACE

It looks as if Canada is thinking up ways we can be a force for good in handling the troubling rise of a nuclear North Korea.

Last weekend our ambassador to China, John McCallum, who was a minister in Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government, mused on this theme during an appearance on CTV.

“Canada stands ready should it be useful for us to help broker a peace,” he said concerning the tense relationship North Korea now has with numerous countries, most notably the United States.

“If there was anything we can do, either to help to set what would be on the table, or to persuade either of the two parties to come to the table, or to be a broker if negotiations begin, I am sure that we would be happy to do that.”

This is the right attitude and Canadians should encourage the government to take this approach. The situation right now is extremely tense. Kim Jong Un has aspired to make North Korea a nuclear power ever since he was put in charge of the rogue state following the death of his father in 2011.

Unfortunately, he’s succeeded beyond analysts’ expectations. Sanctions and previous diplomatic efforts have largely failed.

The North now possesses nuclear weapons and the intercontinental ballistic missiles on which to mount them. This means they have the ability to strike the U.S. and Canada.

It’s America that’s borne the brunt of their threats. Canada, however, is seen as a friendly country, as surprising as that sounds.

After a Canadian delegation visited Pyongyang to secure the release of Toronto-area Pastor Lim, word got out that the country held a positive view of Canada.

So not only was our mission a success, but words of goodwill were exchanged.

It was also reported that Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland previously met with the North Korean representative to the United Nations. This all suggests Canada has some leverage to help open negotiations.

More than a decade ago, the previous government decided we would no longer send an ambassador into Pyongyang for occasional visits. It’s time to consider reopening that door.

Trudeau says Canada’s back. He should put those words into action to assist with one of the most troubling issues we now face.

This all suggests Canada has some leverage to help open negotiations.