Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul spoke by phone with his Canadian counterpart Thursday to discuss bilateral relations and ways to advance cooperation in the economy and other fields, his office said. It was Cho's first such talks with Canada's top diplomat, Melanie Joly, since he took office as the foreign minister in January. The two ministers agreed to continue joint efforts in carrying out the action plans to boost cooperation in five areas, including security, defense, climate change and technologies, in the follow-up to the leaders' summit last year, Cho's office said. In the September summit, President Yoon Suk Yeol and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau elevated the bilateral status to a "comprehensive strategic partnership." Cho and Joly also discussed North Korea's recent provocations and bellicose threats, with a particular note on the North's growing military cooperation with Russia. Cho took note of Canada's efforts in joining South Korea and the international community in condemning North Ko rea's provocative acts, and its participation in the monitoring of Pyongyang's illicit ship-to-ship transfers. In the phone talks, Cho also asked for Canada's support in South Korea's efforts to expand cooperation with the Group of Seven developed countries, according to his office. Source: Yonhap News Agency