Ottawa Condemns North Korean Missile Tests

Joining an already lengthy list of countries to condemn North Korea’s recent missile tests, the Canadian government openly labeled the communist country’s actions a “major threat” to peace and stability in Asia.

“Such actions can only diminish North Korea’s security, not enhance it,” Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said in a statement Wednesday.

“This is not the first time the North Korean government has used brinkmanship in an attempt to improve its leverage with the international community. Canada believes that such tactics are counterproductive and ultimately destined to fail.”

Japan, Russia, the United States, Britain, Australia and others have criticized the series of tests conducted over the last two days. Most recently a long-range missile, which North Korean officials say is capable of reaching the United States was test launched, but fell harmlessly into the Sea of Japan.

Five short-range missiles were also tested, and represent the country’s decision to completely ignore international pleas.

And now they’ve gotten some major attention from some major powers, including the United States, which isn’t the least bit impressed.

“The North Korean government can join the community of nations and prove its lot by acting in concert with those of us who believe that she shouldn’t project nuclear weapons and with those of us who believe that there is a positive way forward for the North Korean government and her people,” said U.S. President George W. Bush.

“This is a choice they make.”

China, North Korea’s neighbour and most important ally, is urging all parties to remain calm.

But that’s easier said than done, and MacKay notes that the launches broke a self-imposed moratorium on missile tests that the North Korean regime instituted in 1999.

Ottawa had long urged the North Koreans to continue the moratorium and call a permanent halt to development and export of missile-related goods and technology.