Mark Dodd – East Timor's defence chief has blasted Australia for its tardy response in helping the half-island state develop a patrol boat fleet to tackle people-smuggling.

The criticism follows Dili's acceptance of a South Korean offer of two free patrol boats whose mission includes intercepting asylum-seeker vessels.

The Gillard government has sought the help of neighbouring states including East Timor and Indonesia to help tackle the problem of people-smuggling, a major regional concern.

Canberra is also pushing Xanana Gusmao's government in East Timor to agree to host a regional processing centre to handle asylum-seekers. Dili is yet to respond to the request.

But in an interview with Tempo Semanal newspaper, a translation of which was seen by The Australian, Secretary of State for Defence Julio Pinto accused Canberra of putting too many conditions on eligibility for its Pacific Patrol Boat Program.

"The South Korean government wrote to us informing they have agreed to donate two patrol boats for the East Timor Defence Force," Dr Pinto told the newspaper.

The Timorese defence chief said Canberra appeared reluctant to help the F-FDTL (defence force) develop its own naval capability, which could be used to deter asylum-seekers and illegal fishing boats entering its maritime zone.

"If Australia is willing to donate any boats – lets accept them – but there's been no sign yet," Dr Pinto said.

The newspaper quotes unnamed Timorese officials as saying Canberra's Pacific Patrol Boat Program comes with too many conditions attached, including a communications net run out of Australia – a demand that potentially compromises Timorese maritime intelligence.

The Australian understands the Korean boats are 21m and 33m craft and will be delivered in June.