Daily Mail:
A North Korean missile could hit Australia within two years, a veteran United States official says.
James Carouso, the acting U.S. ambassador to Australia, said the Trump Administration had ‘extreme concern’ about the rogue, communist state run by dictator Kim Jong-un.
The concern from Mr Carouso comes only weeks after North Korea fired four ballistic missiles into waters off Japan and warned it could attack the U.S..
‘It is very clear North Korea is a problem,’ he told The Australian.
The veteran U.S. State Department diplomat said the reclusive nuclear state looked like it was planning to manufacture advanced, long-range missiles.
‘They’ve gone from using these tests to get attention to now really making these tests to do tests,’ he said.
‘The question has been: what do we want to do about it?’
He added Australia should be worried, as Kim Jong-un ramped up missile development.
‘If he’s worried about his position and holding on to power and all the cost, no matter what the cost is – the world shouldn’t be comfortable,’ Mr Carouso said.
North Korea has already warned it has US bases ‘in its nuclear sights’ and the White House believes the dictatorship could have a missile capable of reaching across the Pacific to the U.S. within four years.
That calculation could see a North Korea missile be capable of reaching Australia within two years.
Pyongyang had earlier threatened ‘catastrophic consequences’ after U.S. President Donald Trump sent an armada of warships to the Korean Peninsula and tweeted a warning to North Korea.
‘North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them. U.S.A.,’ he said.
China has meanwhile moved 150,000 troops to its border to deal with a possible influx of North Korean refugees amid fears Trump may attack the hermit state following a surprise attack on Syria last week.
There are concerns North Korea may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test, after the United States sent an aircraft carrier loaded with fighter jets towards the peninsula.
The North Koreans have responded by warning they’re ready for war.
‘Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements, with our nuclear sight focused on the US invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the US mainland,’ the nation’s official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, a former-intelligence analyst and whistleblower, said Australia had to be mindful of its US alliance…
