The Stalinist state ofNorth Korea, which established diplomatic relations with Canadain February 2001, now plans to open an embassy in Ottawa,Canadian officials have announced.
"The (North Koreans) informed us of their intention toestablish a mission in Ottawa in August of this year. Anadministrative advance team has been in Ottawa for some weeksassessing their requirements," said Canadian foreign ministryspokeswoman Kimberly Phillips.
The closest North Korean representation to Canada is thecountry's United Nations mission in New York, where an officialdeclined to comment on the matter.
Canada, which has yet to open an embassy in North Korea,says it wants to pursue its goals of economic development andtrade and promote "Canadian values" such as human rights,democracy and assistance to the poor.
Earlier this month Ottawa scrapped what would have been thefirst visit to North Korea by a government minister after itemerged that Pyongyang had violated a 1994 deal to control itsnuclear program.
Canada was the fourth member of the Group of Eight powerfulnations after Russia, Italy and Britain to fully recognize theheavily-armed state of 22 million people, which the West fearshas the potential to destabilize large parts of the Far East.