Harper joins nuclear summit as N. Korea tension mounts

Prime Minister Stephen Harper joined other world leaders in Seoul, South Korea Monday where at least unofficially the main topic of discussion will be the nuclear threat posed by Iran and North Korea.

Officially, the leaders are gathered to discuss ways of securing nuclear materials around the world -- talks that come as North Korea plans to send a satellite into space.

But sideline discussions will focus largely on ways of dealing with the threat posed by rogue states Iran and North Korea, reported CTV's Daniele Hamamdjian, travelling with the prime minister.

She said a document that was leaked Monday suggested as much.

"I can tell you the first draft of this communique says world leaders may enforce tighter control over nuclear material to keep them out of the hands of terrorists," Hamamdjian told CTV's Canada AM.

The roughly 60 world leaders are also set to discuss ways of restricting access to highly enriched uranium, the material Canada uses to produce medical isotopes but which can also be used to produce nuclear weapons.

U.S. President Barack Obama announced Monday that the U.S. and three other European countries had agreed on a deal that would allow them to sustain the medical isotopes supply without the use of highly enriched uranium.

The isotopes are used to treat cancer and heart disease worldwide.

It's not clear whether Canada, which just approved a 10-year agreement with Russia to supply its highly-enriched uranium, would support the U.S.-led move.

Harper, who is wrapping up a three-country tour of Asia with a team that includes Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and International co-operation Minister Bev Oda, and others, had a packed schedule during his time in Seoul.

North Korea stole the initial headlines early Monday after Obama challenged the country's leaders "to have the courage to pursue peace."

The challenge came as Seoul warned it might shoot down a North Korean rocket carrying a satellite if it violates South Korean territory.

The launch has been described by the U.S. as a test of Pyongyang's ballistic missile technology -- though Pyongyang denies that claim.

North Korea has maintained in the past that its missile tests were only meant to put satellites into orbit.

A series of internal briefings, prepared for Defence Minister Peter MacKay, show Canada remains unconvinced.

"North Korea's nuclear test provides stark relief to the recent swell of international political support for nuclear disarmament and demonstrates how difficult it will be to translate the vision of a nuclear-free world into reality," said a May 26, 2009 analysis.