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Harper Says No Evidence North Koreans Have Weapons Able to Reach Canada

Posted on: Wednesday, 11 October 2006, 21:00 CDT

VANCOUVER (CP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper says there is no indication North Korea has developed nuclear weapons capable of reaching Canada.

Harper said North Korea's assertion that it successfully tested a nuclear weapon on Monday is obviously concerning. "But with all that said, we don't have any evidence today that North Korea's capacities threaten Canada," Harper said following an announcement in Vancouver on Wednesday.

"Obviously if North Korea eventually developed the capacity to fire missiles at North America, we would be in a different boat. But as alarmed as we are, North Korea is nowhere near that objective today."

North Korea threatened more nuclear tests on Wednesday and said UN sanctions would be tantamount to a declaration of war. Both points heightened tension, especially in Japan and South Korea.

But Harper said there must be a response to the way North Korea is thumbing its nose at the world community.

Canada will go along with any imposed sanctions against that country, he added.

"I don't think we should understate their (weapons tests) seriousness. There are three things here. First of all North Korea is testing actual weapons. North Korea is testing the delivery systems of weapons. And North Korea is strongly suspected internationally of being willing to export and sell these weapons' systems."

The White House has acknowledged there is a "remote possibility" the world never will be able to fully determine whether North Korea succeeded in conducting the test and France's defence minister has said the test may have been a complete failure.

Source: Canadian Press

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