Australia, South Korea call for tougher UN sanctions to isolate North Korea

The Australian government said it will be pushing for stronger United Nations sanctions against North Korea, after it conducted a sixth nuclear test.

People watch a TV news program showing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul

People watch a TV news program showing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul Source: AP

A shallow, 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook North Korea on Sunday, hours after the rogue state said it had developed an advanced hydrogen bomb that possesses "great destructive power".

The Australian and South Korean government have released statements calling for the UN Security Council to impose harsher sanctions against North Korea. 

"We call for the UN Security Council to urgently consider further strong measures that would place pressure on North Korea to change course, and for all nations, especially the Permanent Five UNSC members, to apply the maximum possible pressure to this dangerous pariah regime," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in a statement.

"North Korea's reckless conduct poses a grave danger to global peace and security."

South Korea said it will seek the most powerful United Nations sanctions to "completely" isolate North Korea.

"President Moon Jae-in said the country will never allow North Korea to continue advancing its nuclear and missile technologies," Moon's key security adviser Chung Eui-yong said.  
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said governments across the region will be monitoring the developments with trepidation and concern. 

"Right across our region governments would be watching North Korea"s action with a great deal of concern and trepidation," Ms Plibersek told reporters in Sydney.

She said it is absolutely vital there be continued pressure from the international community to support peace and de-escalation of conflict on the Korean peninsula.

She called on China to take steps to prevent a very dangerous situation emerging and urge the North Korean regime to stand down.
China's Foreign Ministry has released a "resolutely condemning" North Korea's nuclear test.

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2 min read
Published 3 September 2017 6:02pm
Updated 3 September 2017 10:28pm
Source: SBS World News

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