Democratic People's Republic of Korea

CIDA provides only humanitarian assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or North Korea. This assistance is delivered through experienced international partners that provide food assistance directly to vulnerable populations within the country, such as the World Food Programme.

On October 28, 2010, the Government of Canada announced the adoption of a controlled engagement policy toward North Korea. Under this policy, official bilateral contact with the North Korean government is limited to topics concerning regional security concerns; the human rights and humanitarian situation in North Korea; inter-Korean relations; and consular issues. All government-to-government cooperation and communication on topics not covered under the controlled engagement policy has stopped.