But he does not think the latest development will lead to war between North Korea and South Korea.

Speaking in an interview with Australian broadcaster ABC News, he said: 'It is part of a continuing game of brinkmanship and pressure and counter-pressure...I do not think it will go out of hand because I think neither side wants to go to war.'

North Korea this week triggered widespread condemnation from the international community when it conducted its second nuclear test on Monday and fired five short-range missiles over the following two days.

It also said on Wednesday that it was nullifying the armistice that ended the Korean War in 1953 and that it could no longer guarantee the safety of ships in the West Sea area.

Singapore's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday, condemning the nuclear test and describing it as a 'rash and dangerously provocative act that could have grave consequences which may destabilise the entire region'.

It urged Pyongyang to quickly return to the six-party nuclear disarmament talks, adding that peaceful dialogue was the only way to secure North Korea's security and economic interests.

Mr Lee was interviewed by ABC News in the run-up to the three-day Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security forum that kicked off here yesterday. He will not be attending the entire dialogue as he will travel to South Korea tomorrow to attend a summit marking 20 years of relations between Asean and South Korea.

In the interview, Mr Lee noted that a denuclearised Korean Peninsula would be difficult to achieve. However, North Korea would have to take 'serious' note of the responses from its allies, China and Russia, in deploring its actions, he said.

The most recent round of six-party talks between the United States, China, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and Russia took place in Beijing last December. But it ended with no written agreement on verifying Pyongyang's nuclear disarmament. Dates for new talks have not been set.

Mr Lee also spoke about the regional security landscape and the 'very good' Singapore-Australia ties.

He said he was looking forward to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's views on global security concerns and how Australia sees its role in the Asia-Pacific region.

Said Mr Lee: 'Australia has always had a significant role to play in South-east Asia...and we hope it continues to play a constructive role and we look forward to hearing from Prime Minister Rudd how he sees this unfolding.'

-end of ST article