Close X
Thursday, October 10, 2024
ADVT 
National

Justin Trudeau: No Comment On North Korea Threats, Let's Pursue A Diplomatic Solution

The Canadian Press, 22 Sep, 2017 12:50 PM
    UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. — Justin Trudeau avoided being drawn into the tit-for-tat threats between the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea, pointing instead to signs that diplomacy might prevail in a nuclear standoff that has the countries trading insults.
     
    Canada's prime minister said he spoke this week with the South Korean president about possible solutions to the standoff, notably by working with China. There were indeed signs Thursday of a bolstered Chinese role, via economic measures.
     
    What Trudeau wouldn't do was comment on the threats — Kim Jong Un called U.S. President Donald Trump "deranged" on Thursday, and said he would "pay dearly" for talking about "totally destroy(ing)" the country, in a speech where Trump also dubbed the North Korean leader, "Rocket Man."
     
    "As always I will pay close attention to what our American friends and neighbours have to say. ... But it's not my job to opine," Trudeau said when asked by journalists about the earlier Trump comments.
     
    "It is my job to ensure that we maintain a good relationship with the United States — particularly as we renegotiate NAFTA. And also that Canada stays focused on de-escalating the situation ... through diplomatic means."
     
    There were signs of that non-military force being ramped up Thursday.
     
    Trump escalated pressure with an executive order that punishes companies that do business with North Korea, forcing them to choose whether they want to do commerce with the superpower U.S. or the so-called Hermit Kingdom.
     
     
    He also relayed some apparently big news: "I'm very proud to tell you that ... China, their central bank, has told their other banks — that's a massive banking system — to immediately stop doing business with North Korea. This just happened," Trump said, citing reports.
     
    The young North Korean leader offered a bitter late-day riposte.
     
    Kim insulted the U.S. president as deranged, unfit for high office, he warned Trump would pay dearly for his threats, and he called Trump "a rogue and a gangster fond of playing with fire.''
     
    Kim said he is, "thinking hard'' about his response, in a statement carried by the state news agency
     
    Trudeau was asked whether he thinks this is empty insult-flinging between two perennial adversary nations — or a true emerging security crisis, with the risk of devastating consequences.
     
    "I think the situation in North Korea is extremely serious," Trudeau replied. 
     
    "The North Korean regime represents a threat to not just regional security, but global peace," he said. "The reckless behaviour, pronouncements and the development of nuclear weapons by North Korea represents something that all countries in the world should be seized with and concerned about."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    B.C. HIV/AIDS Researcher Julio Montaner Among Winners Of $100,000 Killam Prize

    OTTAWA — Leading HIV/AIDS researcher Julio Montaner is among a group of scientists, writers, doctors and researchers receiving a prestigious prize for brilliant work in fields including health sciences, engineering and humanities.

    B.C. HIV/AIDS Researcher Julio Montaner Among Winners Of $100,000 Killam Prize

    Harjit Sajjan Pulls Out Of Fundraiser For Veterans Amid Afghan Battle Controversy

    Sajjan was supposed to speak at the 8th annual "To the 'Stan and Back" event tonight, but organizer Cheri Elliott says she was told a scheduling conflict had arisen and the defence minister would not be able to attend.

    Harjit Sajjan Pulls Out Of Fundraiser For Veterans Amid Afghan Battle Controversy

    Aftershocks Still Rumbling Following 6.2 Quake That Jolted Yukon, Northwest B.C.

    Aftershocks Still Rumbling Following 6.2 Quake That Jolted Yukon, Northwest B.C.
    Earthquakes Canada also reported a 4.5 magnitude quake jolted the Carcross region, about 75 kilometres south of Whitehorse on Tuesday morning.

    Aftershocks Still Rumbling Following 6.2 Quake That Jolted Yukon, Northwest B.C.

    Liberals Back Down On Parliamentary Changes, But Closure Will Be Cost: Bardish Chagger

    Liberals Back Down On Parliamentary Changes, But Closure Will Be Cost: Bardish Chagger
    OTTAWA — Government House leader Bardish Chagger is putting her opposition colleagues on notice that the Liberals will be invoking closure on debate in the Commons a lot more often.

    Liberals Back Down On Parliamentary Changes, But Closure Will Be Cost: Bardish Chagger

    Strong 6.2 Quake, Multiple Aftershocks, Jolt Parts Of Yukon And Northwest B.C.

    Strong 6.2 Quake, Multiple Aftershocks, Jolt Parts Of Yukon And Northwest B.C.
    WHITEHORSE — Dozens of aftershocks rattled parts of southern Yukon and northern British Columbia after a strong earthquake shook the area Monday morning.

    Strong 6.2 Quake, Multiple Aftershocks, Jolt Parts Of Yukon And Northwest B.C.

    2 Alberta Men Died In Tofino Fish Boat Sinking Off B.C.'s West Coast: RCMP

    2 Alberta Men Died In Tofino Fish Boat Sinking Off B.C.'s West Coast: RCMP
    The Mounties say the men are 32 and 42 years old, but their names and hometowns haven't yet be released.

    2 Alberta Men Died In Tofino Fish Boat Sinking Off B.C.'s West Coast: RCMP