Bishop fixes ties with Boris:
NORTH Korea poses a global threat and its increasingly belligerent behaviour must be reined in, according to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
Ms Bishop made the remarks in London after meeting UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson for talks on labour markets, the war on terrorist group Islamic state, and the actions of the hermit nation North Korea.
“I was in South Korea last weekend and had detailed discussions and briefings on North Korea’s recent behaviour,’’ she said.
“Likewise the United States’ administration is keen to review the situation if North Korea continues its belligerent and provocative behaviour.
“It clearly has been increasing its ballistic missile capability, its nuclear program, and we discussed the ways we could work with China to seek to curb its ( North Korea’s) behaviour and how we can bring more pressure to bear on the regime to change its provocative and belligerent attitude towards South Korea, Japan, United States and others.’’
The secretive regime in Pyongyang brutally represses its people, and in recent years has been trying to prove its strength by test- firing missiles and making aggressive statements about its sworn enemy, South Korea, and other Western democracies.
“We share the view that North Korea not only presents a threat to South Korea and instability on the Korean Peninsula, but it is a regional threat and a global threat,’’ Ms Bishop said.
Ms Bishop also confirmed that planning was underway for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to meet US President Donald Trump. It has been reported Mr Trump and Mr Turnbull could meet in May.
But Mr Johnson’s tie threatened to dominate their joint photo call, with the normally hidden skinny part of the tie in full view, complete with label. Ms Bishop took matters into her own hands, doing what she could to bring the offending garment under control.