PM rewarms US allegiance

Trump, Turnbull as one on N. Korea

MALCOLM Turnbull declared Australia has America’s back while discussing North Korea in a 30-minute phone call with Donald Trump.

In a discussion described as “warm and constructive”, the two leaders agreed the regime represents a grave threat to regional stability.

They said it was time for the international community to exert maximum diplomatic and economic pressure, and that the can cannot be kicked any further down the road.

The prime minister and Mr Trump agreed China is the country with the greatest leverage over North Korea and with that leverage comes the greatest responsibility.

They welcomed China’s support for UN sanctions and its efforts to increase pressure on North Korea but agreed Beijing still holds substantial economic influence that should be used to bring the regime to its senses and restore stability on the Korean peninsula.

Mr Turnbull later told Parliament “above all” he and Mr Trump had affirmed the USAustralia alliance.

“(It’s) the bedrock of our national security. We have America’s back, America has Australia’s back. We are united,” Mr Turnbull said.

The leaders also discussed terrorism in the southern Philippines. A top North Korean diplomat has warned his country is ready to send “more gift packages” to the US.

Han Tae Song, ambassador to the UN in Geneva, confirmed North Korea conducted its sixth and largest nuclear bomb test on Sunday.

“The recent self-defence measures by my country . . . are a gift package addressed to none other than the US,” Han told a disarmament conference.

“The US will receive more ‘gift packages’ . . . as long as it relies on reckless provocations and futile attempts to put pressure on the DPRK.”

There has been speculation North Korea may be planning to fire an ICBM this weekend when the republic celebrates its foundation on September 9.

US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Monday accused North Korean leader Kim Jong Un of “begging for war” with a series of nuclear bomb and missile tests.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told Parliament she had joined with the foreign ministers of Mexico, Indonesia, Korea and Turkey in censuring North Korea for its actions.

Defence Minister Marise Payne is on her way to Seoul to meet with her South Korean counterpart and General Vincent Brooks, the commander of UN Command, US Forces Korea and the Combined Forces Command.

“(It’s) the bedrock of our national security. We have America’s back, America has Australia’s back. We are united.” PRIME MINISTER MALCOLM TURNBULL