Bishop backs US action against North Korea

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Australia has long condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches as the US diverts ships to its coastline.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Australia has long condemned North Korea's missile launches. (AAP) Source: EPA

Australia supports the US sending a strong message to North Korea by diverting an armada to the Korean Peninsula.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop backed America's action on Monday, saying Australia has long condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches.

"We support the US sending a very clear message to North Korea that it should not continue down this path of risking regional and global security," she told ABC radio.

Ms Bishop joined US calls for China to help resolve the destabilisation on the Korean Peninsula.

"The international community will not tolerate a rogue state like North Korea continuing its provocative acts of launching ballistic missiles into the sea of Japan," she told Sky News.

Not only do they threaten Japan and South Korea but also the region, she said.