Prime Minister Julia Gillard has condemned a nuclear weapons test by North Korea.The so-called Hermit Kingdom on Tuesday claimed it has successfully tested a third underground nuclear weapon.
Australia has called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations security council, of which it is a temporary member.
‘The Australian government condemns in the strongest possible terms nuclear testing by North Korea,’ Ms Gillard said in a statement on Tuesday.
‘As a security council member, Australia will work for the strongest possible response to North Korea’s continuing defiance of the will of international community.’
Ms Gillard also said Australia would be making its concerns known to the North Korean government.
Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop said it was a ‘disturbing escalation’ of the regime’s threatening behaviour.
‘The North Korean regime must be condemned in the strongest possible terms for conduct that seeks to destabilise the Korean peninsula and beyond,’ she said.
Australian Greens nuclear spokesman Scott Ludlam urged the Australian government to promote serious efforts on global nuclear disarmament.
Source: skynews Picture: theaustralian.com.au