Canada not doing enough to engage North Korea, ex-envoy tells committee

OTTAWA – A former Canadian ambassador to North Korea says the Harper government isn’t doing as much as it once did to engage the pariah state.

Marius Grinius, a retired veteran diplomat, says the pullback may be hampering Canada’s broader ambitions in Asia.

Grinius, who made four diplomatic visits to North Korea, told the Commons foreign affairs committee that Canada’s disengagement risks making it a “non-player” on the issue.

That’s because getting face time with senior cadres of the regime helps build credibility with China, North Korea’s benefactor.

The Harper government has made it an economic priority to build inroads in Asia, China in particular, which it views a major market for Alberta oilsands bitumen.

Canada has imposed sanctions on North Korea and implemented a controlled engagement policy that restricts access to a handful of topics, including human rights.