Iran and North Korea a threat to Asia stability: Olmert

TOKYO (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert discussed in Japan on Tuesday North Korea's missile cooperation with Iran, cautioning that both countries posed threats to the stability of Asia and the Middle East, an Israeli official said.

Japan's interest in missile defense has deepened since North Korea's surprise test-firing of a three-stage Taepo Dong 1 ballistic missile over the main Japanese island of Honshu on August 31, 1998.

"Iran is at the head of the axis of evil and together with North Korea presents a threat to the stability of Asia and the Middle East," Olmert told Japanese Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the Israeli official told reporters.

Olmert, on a four-day official visit to Japan, provided Japanese officials with information regarding the sale of long-range missiles by North Korea to Iran, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The official gave no details of the alleged sales. Western experts believe that much of Iran's missile technology consists of modifications of equipment supplied by North Korea, China and others.

Iran, whose nuclear program is regarded by Israel as a threat to the existence of the Jewish state, has an array of medium-range missiles. Israel is widely believed to be the Middle East's only nuclear power.

Tehran, which denies its uranium enrichment program is aimed at developing atomic weapons, says its longest-range missile can reach 2,000 km (1,250 miles), sufficient distance to hit Israel and U.S. military bases in the Gulf.

Olmert, who has called for stepped up international sanctions against Iran, is due to meet Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Wednesday and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Tokyo on Thursday.

According to Japan's Nikkei newspaper, Olmert will provide Fukuda with information on North Korea's alleged military cooperation with Syria and Iran.

An Israeli official declined to comment on the report.

Last September, Israel carried out an air strike inside Syrian territory. Some U.S. officials have linked the raid to suspicions of secret nuclear cooperation between Damascus and North Korea. Syria and North Korea have denied any nuclear ties.