Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull rules out missile defence system to counter North Korea
Turnbull again called on China to take the ‘strongest action’ against North Korea as the risk of military conflict intensifies
A US missile defence system being rolled out in South Korea is “not really suitable” for Australia to adopt, the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has said at the G20 summit in Germany, as leaders grapple with North Korea’s launch of its most powerful ballistic missile yet.
Turnbull was asked whether Australia would implement an anti-ballistic missile system like the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system (THAAD), which is being deployed in South Korea.
“That’s not really suitable for our situation but I can assure you we are constantly examining how we can ensure that Australians are safe,” he told reporters.
“I do want to stress this, the answer in respect of North Korea is the denuclearisation of North Korea and for it to stop its reckless and provocative conduct.”
The question to Turnbull was prompted by comments from the former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd that Australia should consider a missile defence system to defend against an attack from North Korea.
The nation with overwhelmingly the greatest leverage over North Korea is China. And so we look to China to bring North Korea to its senses
Rudd said: “Given North Korean developments, Australia would be well advised to begin analysing ballistic missile defence needs, available technologies and possible deployment feasibility for northern Australia.”