Australia May Be Nuclear Target

Questions:


1. What title does Kevin Rudd have in the Australian Government? Explain what this role entails.
Kevin Rudd is Foreign Minister which entails him to make the foreign policies for Australia as well as foreign correspondence to other nations around the world. 


2. What is Kevin Rudd's concern?
Kevin Rudd is concerned that the North Korean government is blaming the destabilisation of his country on others, claiming him to "detached from reality". 


3. What forum was he at to express his concerns?
Rudd was able to express his concerns at the A.S.E.A.N. Regional Forum where he lashed out at the North Korean government for blaming other countries for their de-stability. 


4. What actions have North Korea performed recently which have Rudd alarmed and the region lacking stability?
North Korea has recently torpedoed a South Korean naval frigate, shelled civilians’ homes across the border  and defied two UN Security Council resolutions by pursuing an enriched uranium weapons program. 


5. What is a 'direct threat' to Australia according to Rudd?
The direct threat to Australia is becoming a target of North Korea's long range missile that can be fired up to 15,000km. 


6. What do you think that Rudd is trying to accomplish diplomatically by calling out his North Korean counterpart publicly? How does this relate to Australia's relationship and role in the region? 
They are forcing North Korea to reply which puts Australia in a leadership stance. This then means that Australia is placed in a higher position in the relationships with other countries in the area. 


7. How does this relate to Australia's relationship to major allies?
This may mean that Australia is viewed differently my countries such as America and Britain. They might disagree with pointing out North Korea's mistakes and may therefore change the way they work and communicate with us. 
By having America as an ally, being a big status country Australia can use them to communicate their message while they listen to us only because they fear that America might exert their power.