Canada and the US have hosted a meeting of 20 nations to discuss the DPRK issue. Both governments say the goal was to figure out how to best enforce UN sanctions already in place. But some are questioning if this was the right time or the right conference. CGTN'S Roee Ruttenberg has more from Vancouver.

Giving new momentum to old allies. Diplomats from 20 countries that supported South Korea's war effort in the 1950s against Pyongyang meeting in Canada. The so-called Vancouver Group hopes to better contain the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK and its nuclear aspirations.

But, there's disagreement over how.

CHRYSTIA FREELAND CANADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER "We seek neither a regime change nor a collapse. We are working to resolve this crisis and are aiming for what is in our collective best interests."

South Korea suggested diplomacy may indeed have a chance, following renewed talks with the north.

KANG KYUNG-WHA SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER "We stand ready to provide a brighter future for North Korea if it makes the right choice."

But Japan warned the talks were just a ploy to buy more time.

TARO KONO JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER "We should not be naive about their intent. Nor should we be blinded by North Korea's 'charm offensive'."

The U.S., which co-hosted the one-day conference, said its pressure campaign is working. And, it rejected a freeze-for-freeze option in which the U.S. halts war games with Seoul and Tokyo in exchange for the DPRK halting its nuclear program.

Indeed, the toughest line was pushed by Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State.

REX TILLERSON US SECRETARY OF STATE "If North Korea does not choose the pathway of engagement, discussion, negotiation, then they themselves will trigger an option.The situation only gets worse. It gets worse with each step they take, it gets worse with time."

ROEE RUTTENBERG VANCOUVER "The conference was widely criticized even before it started because Russia and China weren't here. Both countries share a border with DPRK, both countries have veto power in the UN Security Council, both countries favor the Six-Party talks with Pyongyang, and both countries strongly questioned the relevance of a meeting without, what they say are, the relevant players. Roee Ruttenberg, CGTN, in Vancouver."