SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The leaders of South Korea and Canada on Wednesday vowed to strengthen their safety and financial cooperation to deal with challenges posed by North Korea and increase Canadian provides of minerals essential to South Korea’s expertise business as they held a summit in Seoul.

The assembly between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau got here earlier than they journey to Japan for the weekend’s Group of Seven conferences, the place geopolitical uncertainties worsened by Russia’s warfare on Ukraine, China’s regional assertiveness and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions are anticipated to drive discussions.

In a joint assertion issued after the assembly, the leaders condemned North Korea’s rising nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program and urged Pyongyang to return to U.S.-led denuclearization talks, which have stalled since 2019 over disagreements associated to worldwide sanctions imposed on the North.

Trudeau, the primary Canadian chief to go to South Korea in 9 years, stated his authorities stays dedicated to working intently with Seoul and different worldwide companions to deal with the North Korean risk. He stated his authorities will work to reinforce Canada’s naval presence and participation in multinational operations to watch the enforcement of U.N. Security Council sanctions in opposition to Pyongyang.

Yoon and Trudeau additionally stated they'll work to strengthen provide chain cooperation in clear vitality and significant minerals, which they stated will promote environment-friendly applied sciences and make the nations extra aggressive in world markets for batteries and zero-emission vehicles.

Yoon’s authorities has described the nation’s commerce relations with Canada as important for dealing with instabilities in world provide chains and vitality markets. Canada is without doubt one of the world’s largest producers of gas and fuel and key minerals like nickel, lithium and cobalt, that are utilized by South Korean corporations to fabricate electrical automotive batteries.

Hours earlier than his summit with Yoon, Trudeau delivered a speech to South Korean lawmakers at Seoul’s National Assembly, the place he made comparable feedback on safety and financial cooperation and responding to the North Korean risk. Trudeau was the primary overseas chief to ship a speech at South Korea’s parliament in six years, following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech in 2017.

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