Peter Hartcher, political editor of the SMH, argues that given North Korean development of nuclear weapons, it is time for Australia to consider setting up a missile defence.
Peter Hartcher expresses concern that Australia has no defence against an intercontinental ballistic missile.
He points out that it is time for Australia to consider setting up a missile defence as Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop put it last week, North Korea is a threat "directly to Australia".
According to Peter Hartcher, a growing number of US experts believe the most likely outcome will be that the world will tolerate the intolerable and the Kim dynasty will end up as the world's newest nuclear power.
The idea of Darwin or Cairns or Townsville, perhaps, as an intercontinental demonstration site for North Korean nukes? "That idea does exist in theory," a former defence official, now head of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Peter Jennings said.
Peter Hartcher argues that when the voters and taxpayers of northern Australia start to ask why they have no protection against North Korean missiles, the government might need to find a better answer.
