North Korea could within months launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that would strike Australia, according to a defence expert.
Intelligence assessments show North Korea has yet to perfect the means for an ICBM to survive atmospheric re-entry over the target, Dr Malcolm Davis from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) said on Friday.
“But they could be within a few months of solving those problems,” he added.
“Once they solve those problems then theoretically, should the North Koreans choose to do so, then they could launch nuclear attacks on Australia.”
Dr Davis made the comments about northern Australia, with North Korea's capital Pyongyang located 5,747 kilometres from Darwin.
The North Korean capital is located less than 7,000 km from Cairns and Townsville, each of which have populations of more than 100,000 people and serve as major centres for tourism and industry.
