S. Korea, Canada agree to work together on climate change, N. Korea

By Byun Duk-kun
L'AQUILA, Italy, July 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper agreed Friday to increase their roles in
dealing with global issues such as North Korea and climate change.

The two leaders met here on the sidelines of the Major Economies Forum.
"The leaders noted the two countries have steadily improved their special
partnership since establishing diplomatic ties in 1963 based on their cooperative
relations in various areas, including political, economic and cultural sectors,"
South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.
"They agreed to continue to work closely together in the international community
as middle powers that share common values of democracy, market economy and human
rights," it added.
The agreement came as the leaders of the world's 28 developed and emerging
economies gathered here in the central Italian city of L'Aquila for the
international forum, focusing on combating climate change and securing food and
energy.
Lee and Harper agreed to spearhead such efforts as Seoul will assume the
chairmanship of the G-20 Economic Summit, and Canada the leadership of the G-8
Summit, next year.
The two also reaffirmed their stance on North Korea that Pyongyang's possession
of nuclear weapons is a threat to global peace and security and that it cannot be
accepted under any circumstances, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
"They agreed the international community must work to completely denuclearize
North Korea through concerted efforts under the U.N. Security Council Resolution
1874 while leaving doors open for dialogue," the press release said.
North Korea conducted its second atomic test on May 25, prompting the Security
Council resolution that placed various economic and diplomatic sanctions on it.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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