Australia condemns N.Korea missile test

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has condemned North Korea's latest "provocative ballistic tests".

North Korea

Julie Bishop has branded North Korea's latest missile lauch as "provocative." Source: AAP

Australia has condemned North Korea's latest reported launch of a long-range missile.

State-run television claims the rocket, which flew for almost 40 minutes before landing in the Sea of Japan, was ordered and supervised by leader Kim Jong Un.

The North says its missiles are now capable of striking anywhere in the world.

"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has become an imposing nuclear power with the most powerful ICBM capable of hitting any part of the world," the state broadcaster KCTV said.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says such ballistic tests are "provocative" and in breach of numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions.

"North Korea continues to threaten its neighbours while undermining regional and global security," she said in a statement on Tuesday.

"North Korea's long-term interests would be best served by ceasing its nuclear and missiles programs, and focusing on improving the lives of its long-suffering people."

Acting US ambassador to Australia James Caruso questioned claims the missile was, in fact, intercontinental.

He expressed concern that North Korea continues to violate UN resolutions and is launching missiles in the direction of other countries.

"The whole world has to come together to get them to stop and denuclearise the Korean peninsula," he told reporters in Canberra.

Mr Caruso said US President Donald Trump has been warning North Korea by calling on other nations to stop trading with them and employing their workers.

"He wants to tell North Korea that if they're going to be an outlaw among the international community by doing these nuclear tests and launching these missiles, there are consequences."

The ambassador would not say if he believed the launch was timed to coincide with July 4 Independence Day celebrations in the US or the the G20 summit starting in Germany later this week.


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Published 4 July 2017 6:56pm
Source: AAP


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