OTTAWA -- Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says Canada stands by the United States, but called for a de-escalation in the war of words with North Korea.
U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Friday morning that "military solutions" are "locked and loaded" should North Korea act unwisely, capping off a week that saw North Korea lay out plans for a military strike on Guam, an American territory in the region.
The two nuclear powers have been steadily increasing their rhetoric, leading Freeland to condemn North Korea's actions but suggest it's time to reel in the verbal threats. Earlier this week, Trump said the country’s threats against the U.S. would be met with "fire and fury."
"It is important to be clear from the Canadian perspective that we stand by our allies when they are threatened, very much including the United States," Freeland told reporters in Edmonton Friday afternoon, after being asked about Trump's inflammatory language.
"Having said that, I think that we need to seek ways to de-escalate the situation. We need to find ways to pressure and persuade North Korea that the path that it is on ... can have no positive ending."
Freeland called repeatedly on North Korea to end its missile program.
"Canada is very clear in condemning the actions of North Korea," she said.
The country, she said, "is posing an unacceptable security threat both in the region and to the entire world."
