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Intercepting ships carrying nuclear cargo

Jeff Sallot, Globe & Mail, 18 Nov 06

QUEBEC CITY -- The government would have to be certain it could keep warships at sea for extended periods if it joins U.S. naval patrols to intercept North Korean nuclear material, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor said yesterday.

The cabinet has not yet formally received a U.S. request, but Mr. O'Connor said Canada would have to consider the issue of sustainability. A ship's crew usually is not expected to serve more than six months at sea, so replacement ships and crews have to be available.

Mr. O'Connor said it takes three separate crews and ships to sustain a mission that would see only one ship at sea at all times.

Senior U.S. and Canadian officials this week discussed how they might co-operate in the effort to halt shipments of nuclear material and ballistic missile components to and from North Korea.

North Korea exploded an atomic warhead last month, raising fears the cash-starved regime might try to sell nuclear material to terrorist groups.

The UN Security Council has authorized the interception of ships to or from North Korea to look for material that can be used in nuclear weapons.