The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, today welcomed the shutdown of all five of North Korea’s nuclear facilities, as called for in an agreement reached at the Six-Party Talks to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and as confirmed today by the International Atomic Energy Agency.



“The shutdown of these nuclear plants, and the Yongbyong nuclear reactor in particular, represents an important step toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.



“During my visit to Seoul in May of this year, I reiterated Canada’s support for a peaceful solution to the North Korean nuclear issue. Canada actively supports the Six-Party Talks process, which offers the best prospects for resolving the North Korea nuclear crisis.



“While we welcome the recent closures, we call on North Korea to continue taking steps to meet its denuclearization commitments, including the full implementation of the February 13 agreement.”