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Australia has decided in principle to join a U.S.-led missile defense system, strengthening military ties with Washington, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Thursday.

Stressing the missile system was purely a defensive shield and not offensive, Downer said this would deter rogue states from acquiring ballistic missile technology.

"This is a strategic decision to put in a place a long-term measure to counter potential threats to Australia's security and its interests from ballistic missile proliferation," Downer told parliament.

While he did not mention North Korea by name, the communist state has a nuclear weapons program and has ballistic missiles capable of hitting U.S.-ally Japan.

Canberra's decision to joint the U.S. program could spark renewed accusations by some Asian neighbors that Australia is playing "deputy sheriff" for Washington in the Asia-Pacific region.

Australia has also joined the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program to develop an advanced stealth fighter-bomber.

Downer, aware of regional sensitivities, said the conservative government had already briefed many countries in the region of its decision to join the missile program, which it has vocally supported for some time.

He said Australia would continue to keep its regional partners informed of its involvement.

Defense Minister Robert Hill said this could include expanded cooperation to detect missiles at the point of launch, acquiring ship-based or ground-based sensors, and research development.

Downer said joining the missile defense system would strengthen Australia's military ties to the United States.

"Our long and vigorous alliance with the United States benefits the security of both countries and will be strengthened by our participation in missile defense," Downer said.

The United States took its first steps toward setting up a missile defense umbrella last year when it withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty that banned such systems.

The missile defense program is in its initial stages but many defense experts viewed Australia as an essential component in a shield because of a U.S.-Australia monitoring station at Pine Gap in the desert of central Australia.

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