Rudd raises concerns over North Korea's nuclear threat

Australia's Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has given further weight to Australian involvement in the development of America's ballistic missile shield, warning that his country could become a potential target for North Korean nuclear weapons.

Rudd's warning followed talks at the Asean Regional Forum and East Asia Summit about the emerging threat of long-range missiles, North Korea's uranium enrichment programme, Pyongyang's role in nuclear proliferation and attacks on the South.

Rudd also discussed regional concerns about North Korea in separate talks with his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi. China carries serious weight in Pyongyang as the North's economic prop and sole friend among major powers.

Tensions have grown over North Korea's nuclear programme, the torpedoing of a South Korean frigate last year and the artillery bombardment of Yeonpyeong, controlled by the South but also claimed by the North.

"In Australia, our view is very simple," said Rudd. "The uranium enrichment programme on the part of the North Koreans equals a fundamental violation of international law as expressed through two United Nations Security Council resolutions.

"Furthermore, if you match the uranium enrichment programme by the North Koreans with their missile development programme, progressively North Korea represents a threat not just to the South but also to the wider region, including Australia."

Asked if missiles were capable of reaching Australia, Rudd said he was worried by the "weaponisation" of nuclear material and its deployment into short, medium and - over time - long-range missiles.

"If it's a long-range missile which is developed over time - and that is the question, which is developed over time - then of course it represents a threat to Australia.

"What is uncertain is the current stage of development of the North Korean long-range missile programme. What we do know is this country, having gone from nowhere into nuclear capabilities a couple of decades ago, it's come a long, long way and it's a threat to all of us, including Australia."

Rudd also described as outrageous the North's claims that its attacks last year were a defence against provocation by the South.

"It's clear to me that the Government of North Korea is detached from reality if it believes that others are the source of this destabilisation rather than themselves."

In January, then-United States Defence Secretary Robert Gates warned that North Korea could deploy intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking the United States within five years.

North Korea has tested the long-range Taepo Dong 1 missile and is developing a successor capable of crossing the Pacific.

Australia and the United States signed an agreement on co-operation on missile defence in 2004, described as a "purely defensive system ... to counter potential threats to Australia's security and interests from ballistic missile proliferation".

The joint spy bases at Pine Gap and Nurrungar have been used to detect the launch of theatre ballistic missiles - notably during the first Gulf War.

Australia's three new air warfare destroyers will be equipped with over-the-horizon Aegis radar systems used in missile defence. The Australian Navy destroyers will not initially be fitted with the Standard SM-3 missiles used to intercept ballistic weapons, but they could be added later on.