National calls for delegation to North Korea

National says New Zealand should be backing Australia in putting pressure on North Korea against its withdrawal from international treaties.

National Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Dr Wayne Mapp said New Zealand, like Australia, the United States and the UN, should be sending a delegation to North Korea in protest at its withdrawal from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

“Given that New Zealand has been a consistent advocate of freeing the world of nuclear weapons, why we are not backing our words with action?

“We have taken a case to the International Court of Justice, we have sent ships to protest against nuclear testing, but we have been conspicuous by our lack of determined action against North Korea’s ambitions to develop nuclear weapons.

“New Zealand recognised North Korea before Australia did, but we are now
lagging behind in dealing with the nuclear proliferation issue right in our Asia Pacific region,” Dr Mapp said.

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