Japan鈥檚 ambassador to Canada says North Korea鈥檚 nuclear test on Friday was a 鈥渃lear violation鈥� of United Nations Security Council resolutions and that Japan has to be prepared for military action if necessary.
The latest detonation -- the country鈥檚 second in eight months -- has heightened concerns that North Korea is building lighter, smaller nuclear weapons capable of being mounted on missiles and striking as far away as North America鈥檚 west coast.
Speaking to CTV鈥檚 Power Play on Friday, Kenjiro Monji said Japan supports a peaceful resolution but has taken steps to defend itself, including the use of missile defence capabilities.
鈥淲e already have a current missile defence system with the United States and on our own, so I think that 鈥� plays a very important role,鈥� Monji said. 鈥淲e should be ready to defend ourselves.鈥�
The Sea of Japan divides North Korea from Japan by several hundred kilometres, and Monji said it is believed that North Korea has the technology capable of striking Japan.
鈥淭hey are certainly upgrading those technologies,鈥� he said.
Since the test, which triggered a 5.0-magnitude quake, Japan has launched a 鈥渟trong protest鈥� against North Korea and condemned the test in 鈥渢he strongest possible terms,鈥� Monji said.
鈥淭his poses great concern to the security of Japan and undermines the peace and stability of the region and the international community,鈥� Monji said.
He said Japan鈥檚 national security council has held a meeting since the test. The UN Security Council also met Friday afternoon for an emergency meeting.
鈥淚 hope there will be some concrete discussions,鈥� Monji said of the UN meeting.
Leaders from across the globe stepped forward Friday to criticize North Korea鈥檚 actions. South Korean President Park Geun-hye said Kim Jong Un "is spiraling out of control" and called the test "fanatic recklessness." U.S. President Barack Obama said the U.S. will never 鈥渁ccept North Korea as a nuclear state.鈥�
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the nuclear test is an "unacceptable violation" of UN Security Council resolutions. In a statement on Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said Canada 鈥渃ondemns in the strongest terms鈥� the test.
"We call upon North Korea to comply with its international obligations, take concrete steps toward denuclearization and re-engage in meaningful negotiations for a peaceful political solution," the statement read.
Monji said Japan 鈥渇ully appreciates鈥� Canada鈥檚 support.
With files from the Associated Press
