(No. 231 - August 15, 2011 – 6:45 p.m. ET) John Baird, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, today issued the following statement regarding expanded sanctions against North Korea:
“I am pleased to announce that a number of tough new sanctions are now in effect against North Korea. They are the latest in a series of steps our government has taken in recent years to forcefully declare Canada’s opposition to aggressive actions by the current North Korean regime.
“This is a regime that shows contempt for international will through its belligerent actions and that chooses to fund military and nuclear programs while the basic needs of the North Korean population go unmet.
“These latest sanctions ban all exports and imports as well as most financial transactions between North Korea and Canada and further isolate the regime internationally. These sanctions are not intended to harm North Koreans. Stabilization assistance and activities, as well as humanitarian assistance, are exempted from the impact of these regulations in order to avoid harming the people of North Korea.
“Canada has not—and will not—hesitate to oppose the combative and provocative actions of the North Korean regime. We urge its leaders to implement real reforms and live up to their international obligations and domestic expectations.”
For more information, including on the extent of the sanctions and the available exemptions, please see North Korea: Overview of New Sanctions and a May 2010 statement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
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