South Korea's prime minister has thanked Australia for its support during talks with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten on the tense situation around North Korea.
Lee Nak-yeon met with Mr Shorten and Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong in Seoul on Monday over the missile crisis gripping the peninsula.
They discussed the threat and expected impact of resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council, reiterating the need for a peaceful resolution.
Mr Shorten said while it's a dangerous time, the recent sanctions on North Korea - especially the restrictions on oil from China - are starting to have an impact.
"This is a critical time for the Republic of Korea - and Australia continues to be a strong and close ally," he said in a statement.
"It's clear from our discussions that the crisis presented by North Korea's missile testing cannot and should not be underestimated."
Mr Shorten and Senator Wong also met with former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon about the roles of the UN, US, South Korea and Japan in de-escalating the situation.
He, too, thanked Australia for its strong support of the UN and its goals.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop addressed the UN last week on the North Korea crisis and is this week meeting with officials from the Trump administration to talk about the issue and others.
Mr Shorten and Senator Wong will meet with the Commander US Forces Korea, General Vincent K. Brooks on Tuesday and travel to the demilitarised zone.
