Uneasy tensions between North Korea and the rest of the region are likely to remain as the rogue state continues to dish out threats of nuclear attacks.
It turned its sights on Australia on Saturday for "blindly and zealously toeing the US line" and accused Foreign Minister Julie Bishop of "spouting a string of rubbish against the DPRK over its entirely just steps for self-defence" .
It was responding to comments made by Ms Bishop last week sanctions would send "the clearest possible message" to North Korea that its behaviour would not be tolerated.
"If Australia persists in following the US moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK and remains a shock brigade of the US master, this will be a suicidal act of coming within the range of the nuclear strike of the strategic force of the DPRK," Pyongyang said.
Ms Bishop told AAP on Sunday that 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.
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"These present a grave threat to its neighbours and, if left unchecked, to the broader region including Australia," she said.
"The North Korean government should invest in the welfare of its long-suffering citizens, rather than weapons of mass destruction."
North Korea's nuclear threat dominated talks on Saturday between Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and visiting US Vice President Mike Pence.
Labor's defence spokesman Richard Marles said on Sunday North Korea's latest statement was a matter of enormous concern, but noted Pyongyang had made similar threats to other nations, even a veiled one to its ally China.
