Second Canadian citizen questioned by China is “missing”

Canadian authorities said Spavor was running a China-based company that organized sightseeing, business and sporting trips to North Korea. Spavor's company, Paektu Cultural Exchange, helped bring former NBA star Dennis Rodman to Pyongyang, according toAFP.

"We can confirm that Canadian citizen Michael Spavor is missing in China," Global Affairs Canada spokesman Guillaume Berube said in an email. "We have been unable to contact him since he notified us that he was being questioned by Chinese authorities."

"We are working to determine his whereabouts and continue to make recommendations to the Chinese government," Berube added.

Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig was detained days ago during a trip to Beijing on suspicion of violating NGO laws. Canadian officials said they received formal notification of Kovrig’s arrest by fax on December 10.

Last week, Canada arrested Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States on suspicion of violating sanctions against Iran. She was released on $7.5 million bail by a Canadian court while awaiting a decision on her extradition to the United States.

It is not clear whether China's questioning of two Canadian citizens is related to Ms. Meng's arrest.