China and North Korea have temporarily suspended cross-border freight train services via the Sinuiju-Dandong checkpoint amid a surge in COVID-19 cases on the Chinese side, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Friday

North Korea is finalizing its preparations to reopen the border with China, which was closed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to restore rail freight transportation, Yonhap news agency reported on Thursday, citing a source in the South Korean unification ministry

The United States is calling on Beijing to provide continued consular access to two Canadian nationals detained in China on espionage charges and is troubled by the lack of transparency during their trial, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Tuesday

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that Beijing's relationship with the Western world is at stake over the detention of two Canadians charged with espionage in China and other alleged instances of coercive diplomacy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday the detention of two Canadian nationals in China on charges of espionage is unacceptable as is the lack of transparency in the legal process against them

Canada will continue to engage with allies to push for the release of two Canadians detained on espionage charges in China, Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois-Philippe Champagne said in a statement on Friday

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday during a campaign-style stop that he was disappointed by the decision of the Chinese authorities to bring formal espionage charges against two detained Canadians