Family mourning for Julian
PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has slammed North Korea for its dangerous threats after the communist regime said Australia’s decision to join military exercises with the United States and South Korea was a “suicidal act”.
It is the second time this year the totalitarian state has taken aim at Australia, after yesterday claiming the military exercises would lead to “the uncontrollable phase of a nuclear war”.
The tantrum- prone hermit kingdom has already claimed it has drawn up plans to hit Guam, Hawaii or the US mainland in a “merciless strike”.
“Not long after the Australian prime minister had stated that they would join in the aggressive moves of the US — even referring to ANZUS which exists in name only — the Australian military announced that they would dispatch their troops to the aggressive nuclear exercises of the US,” a North Korean Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman told the North Korean news agency KCNA.
“This is a suicidal act of inviting disaster as it is an illustration of political immaturity unaware of the seriousness of the current situation.
Mr Turnbull said he hoped the North Korean regime could be brought to its senses.
“North Korea has shown it has no regard for the welfare of its own population, no regard for the security and good relations with its neighbours and no regard for i n t e r n a - t i o n a l law,” he said. “We call on all c o u n t r i e s to redouble their efforts, including through implementation of agreed UN Security Council resolutions, to bring North Korea to its senses and end its reckless and dangerous threats to the peace of our region and the world.” Defence Minister Marise Payne has repeatedly downplayed Australia’s role in the joint exercises, with just 24 Australian Defence Force personnel participating. The 10- day drills are known as Ulchi Freedom Guardian.
US President Donald Trump said earlier this month North Korea would be “met with fire and fury like the world has never seen” if it kept threatening the US.
North Korea last warned Australia about a “suicidal act” in April. At the time, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the North Korean dictatorship “should invest in the welfare of its long- suffering citizens, rather than weapons of mass destruction”.
That led to calls from former prime ministers Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd for Australia to consider implementing its own missile defence system, though it was quickly rejected by Mr Turnbull.