The Defence Minister has hinted that if North Korea pushes ahead with a missile launch there will be an international effort to shoot it down. Brendan Nelson is in Washington and has held talks with the United States vice-president Dick Cheney, as North Korea prepares to test fire a missile.Dr Nelson says there has been no discussion about a pre-emptive strike against North Korea, but has left open the possibility of shooting down the missile in-flight. "If that missile is launched, the world will deal with it as it sees fit and Australia would certainly support any reasonable and determined effort, if the missile is launched, that it does not cause injury or harm to anybody," he said.
He says the Australian and US Governments are communicating frequently at the highest levels about what to do if North Korea goes ahead with a missile launch. "We will support every reasonable diplomatic and other effort that may be taken to prevent that missile causing harm to any human being," he said.