North Korea threatens Australia with a nuclear strike

North Korea

Source: AAP

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has hit back at North Korea over its threat of a nuclear strike on Australia, saying that Pyongyang should be investing in the welfare of its "long-suffering citizens" rather than weapons of mass destruction.


The rogue state turned its sights on Australia, threatening nuclear retaliation - after Ms Bishop said North Korea could be subject to further Australian sanctions.

But Ms Bishop says North Korea's threats of nuclear strikes against other nations further underlines the need for the regime to abandon its illegal nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Labor's defence spokesman Richard Marles says North Korea's latest statement is a matter of concern.

But he's told Sky News, threats are not uncommon from the regime.

"This sort of language has been business as usual for the North Korean regime - saying in relation to Australia but they've said in relation to the US in the last 24 hours. There's also been veiled threats in respect to China coming out of North Korea. So this is just the normal course of rhetoric you hear from that regime."

Um porta-voz do governo norte-coreano disse que a Austrália está dizendo bobagens sobre a Coreia do Norte.

A ameaça vem após a ministra das Relações Exteriores, Julie Bishop, ter dito que a Coreia do Norte poderá sofrer mais sanções por parte da Austrália.

O porta-voz da oposição para a defesa, Richard Marles, disse não acreditar que vá haver um conflito na península coreana, mas que a ameaça contra a Austrália era preocupante.

"China are talking about the fact of if we're going to deal with North Korea, it needs to be China, America and the whole world dealign with the question of North Korea. In that, the China are absolutely righ. so, I actually think there is a lot of positives out of this in terms of the way the world is reacting to North Korea. But there needs to be because the idea of this state seeking to weaponise intercontinental ballistic missiles with a nuclear warhead is a worrying prospect."

O ex-embaixador dos Estados Unidos na Austrália, Jeffrey Bleich, disse que a Austrália não tem outra saída do que envolver-se na situação da Coreia do Norte, apoiando o seu país.

"Some of these missiles potentially are capable of reaching the northern part of Australia. So obviously it is important for Australia's own security to be involved for the United States. We are an ally of South Korea, we are pledged to defend South Korea. And for China, China has got real concerns about a threatening and volatile North Korea, requires us to put our THAAD systems, our anti-ballistic missile systems aimed right on the China border, which is not where they want us to be."

Siga-nos no Facebook e Twitter.

Share
Follow SBS Portuguese

Download our apps
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
Independent news and stories connecting you to life in Australia and Portuguese-speaking Australians.
What was it like to be diagnosed with cancer and undergo treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
Portuguese News

Portuguese News

Watch in onDemand
North Korea threatens Australia with a nuclear strike | SBS Portuguese