Analysts of North Korea's first successful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch are saying its estimated scope includes a sizable swath of Canada, according to AFP.

The North Korean government claimed their Hwasong-14 ICBM, which flew for 39 minutes, reached an altitude 2,802 km and hit its target 933 km away on Tuesday.

But, as the BBC reports, North Korea is still years away from mounting a nuclear warhead on a long-range weapon.

Physicist David Wright believes the missile could travel up to 6,700 km, which would put it in the range of not only Alaska, but also Canada's northern territories and a majority of British Columbia.

South Korean media report the missile could reach as far as 8,000 km.

North Korean state media has called the missile launch a "gift" to the U.S. in honour of the Fourth of July.

At its current pace, North Korea could have a weapon ready to strike the United States mainland within the next five to 10 years, according to the BBC.

This, of course, would also put parts of Canada at risk.

The Trudeau government has considered the threat to Canada. Its new defence policy, unveiled in June, mentions this potential scenario.

"The number of countries with access to ballistic-missile technology, including some with the potential to reach North America or target Canadian and allied deployed forces, has increased and is expected to grow and become more sophisticated," the policy states. "North Korea's frequent nuclear and missile tests underscore this point."