The Department's head, Michael L'Estrange, says Australia has no plans to cancel its humanitarian aid to North Korea.
But Mr L'Estrange sys Australia has cancelled diplomatic dealings at a departmental level.
“Within our own narrow parameter of manoeuvrability we have announced in that last 24 hours that those kinds of exchanges between officials will now be significantly truncated,” Mr L’Estrange said.
Mr L'Estrange says Australia is confident that the United Nations Security Council will find appropriate ways to put pressure on Pyongyang.