Singapore  - Defence ministers and policy-makers from 27 nations gathered in Singapore Friday for the largest summit on Asian defence and security against the background of rising tensions after North Korea tested a nuclear weapon and short-range missiles earlier this week.

The three-day 2009 Shangri-La Dialogue represents the highest concentration of defence and security leaders in Asia.

Since its inaugural meeting in 2002, the dialogue organized by the non-governmental London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has also expanded as a venue for diplomats from the Unites States and Europe.

According to the agenda the summit would officially kick off with a keynote speech from Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Friday evening.

US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates was scheduled to address the participants on Saturday.

The North Korean threat was expected to rank high among the issues to be discussed not only in plenary sessions but also in meetings on the sidelines of the summit.

Other topics to be addressed are the United States' security role in Asia-Pacific, strengthening defence diplomacy in the region and defence cooperation.

Attendees to the summit include delegates from Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.

The summit is scheduled to conclude on May 31. (dpa)