Luxembourg has joined other countries within the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Troika in voicing condemnation of North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket using ballistic missile technology just two days ago.
The launch, which occurred on Sunday 7 February 2016, was said to be in direct violation of relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, including resolution 2094 of 2013. The Security Council itself deemed the approach a contribution to the DPRK's capacity to deliver weapons of mass destruction with its missiles, "even if characterised as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle".
The MTCR was established in 1987 by founding countries Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US, as a response to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The Regime now comprises 34 partner countries, of which Luxembourg is one. In a statement released Monday, the Grand Duchy cited the MTCR as the "only multilateral export control regime on missiles" and called for extreme vigilance against "the eventuality of exports contributing to the DPRK missile programme".
Photo by European Council (Luxrmbourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn)
