There's room for further sanctions against North Korea: Bishop

Julie Bishop is open to hitting North Korea with harsher sanctions if they were needed to force the regime to the negotiating table.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop

Julie Bishop says its up to the US to decide if Donald Trump's North Korea Twitter taunts work. (AAP) Source: AAP

US President Donald Trump's Twitter taunting of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was a matter for the US, not Australia, to decide if it was the correct strategy, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.

Ms Bishop is in New York this week representing Australia at the United Nations General Assembly after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull opted not to attend.

Mr Trump raised eyebrows on Sunday when he described the North Korean leader as "Rocket Man" in a provocative tweet.

"That's a matter for the United States to use the language it seems to believe will work in terms of curbing North Korea's behaviour," Ms Bishop told reporters on Monday.

"Australia's interest is in urging all countries to fully implement the sanctions ... that were mandated by the Security Council."
Ms Bishop said she would be open to delivering harsher sanctions against North Korea if they were needed to compel the regime to the negotiating table.

"I believe there is room for further sanctions," Ms Bishop said.

"Australia will be calling for the toughest possible sanctions but we must ensure the ones we currently agreed upon are implemented."
Global terrorism and Myanmar's campaign of violence against the Rohingya people were other items high on Australia's UNGA agenda.

Ms Bishop attended Mr Trump's brief speech at the UN on Monday where the president endorsed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' plan to reform the UN.

Mr Trump, a harsh critic of the world body, said the United Nations "has not reached its full potential because of bureaucracy and mismanagement".

Mr Trump will deliver his main speech to the UNGA on Tuesday while Ms Bishop's address is scheduled for Friday.

Ms Bishop declined to comment on reports the CIA asked Australia to set up a diplomatic presence in North Korea.

"I don't discuss intelligence and security issues," she replied.

"I wouldn't discuss a matter involving the CIA."

Share
Published 19 September 2017 8:44am
Updated 19 September 2017 11:37am
Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world