WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Canada/U.S. border is about to lose its distinction as the world’s longest undefended border as more than 600 U.S. troops will be deployed to increase security.

Truckers will likely face even more scrutiny as the U.S. puts a military presence in place in an effort to prevent terrorists from entering the country through Canada.

U.S. attorney general, John Ashcroft, stresses “This is not militarizing our border with Canada. It’s the longest, peaceful, wonderfully cooperative border. But we’re going to try and take up some of this slack that we created when we moved people over to the inspection function.”

Canadian officials were not critical of the announcement, and they have vowed to work with the U.S. to tighten up the border. But Andre Lemay, spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade says they will insist that trade between the two countries isn’t disrupted as a result of this latest move.

Ashcroft says that the flow of goods will not be disrupted, and U.S. troops will actually improve the flow of goods by helping border guards speed clearance of Canadian products destined for U.S. companies. He says border guards have been working “tremendously long hours” and they will welcome to extra help from the military.