No cowering to North Korea

Rogue state condemns Bishop’s support for US stand

THE Federal Government has hit back at North Korea, saying it won’t bow to the rogue state’s threats.

The Pyongyang regime has criticised Australia’s “dangerous moves” in its support for the United States in its “frenzied political and military provocations” against North Korea.

“Should Australia continue to follow the US in imposing military, economic and diplomatic pressure upon the DPRK despite our repeated warnings, they will not be able to avoid a disaster,” state-run news agency KCNA warned in a statement on Saturday.

The statement came after a visit to South Korea last week by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defence Minister Marise Payne during which they met their counterparts and stressed the need to thwart North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

The news agency said, “The Australian foreign minister personally expressed her support for the stand of the US to consider all options including the use of force towards the DPRK.”

Defence Personnel Minister Dan Tehan told Sky News yesterday Australia would not tolerate threats.

“We will not be cowed by the North Koreans,” he said.

“We will continue to do everything we can to protect and help and support our allies.”

He said North Korea should obey all the UN security council resolutions which had been passed condemning their missile activity and attempts to develop a nuclear weapon.

“If they do that then the rest of the international community will look to work with them,” Mr Tehan said.

“If they don’t, we will continue to support our allies, the South Koreans, the Japanese and everyone else who is threaten by this unpalatable behaviour by the North Koreans.”

Labor frontbencher Ed Husic said North Korea not only represented a threat to the region but also global security.

“Clearly we’re not going to respond favourably to the type of statements that have been expressed by the North Koreans,” he told ABC television