The global community wants ‘significant measures’ against North Korea: Julie Bishop

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Thursday that the recent nuclear testing by North Korea is a threat to global security, and the international community is in agreement over taking “significant measures” against the country. Bishop said North Korea’s recent activities violated the norms of several international treaties.

“The security council did hold emergency consultations overnight,” Sky News quoted Bishop as saying. “All members were united in their condemnation of North Korea's actions and agreed that further significant measures should be introduced.”

Australia is in line with the US and South Korea in expressing doubt over North Korea’s claims to have detonated a miniature hydrogen bomb on Wednesday. According to these countries, North Korea has exaggerated its technical capacities in the past.

While the United Nations is focusing on intensifying sanctions on North Korea, the foreign minister underlined the role of China in ensuring that the sanctions are imposed. The Guardian reported that she acknowledged the growing tensions between Beijing and Pyongyang but noted that China is the closest ally that North Korea has. China also influences the country in a number of ways, Bishop added.

“[The influence is] perhaps not as much as the international community would wish, but nevertheless as a neighbour and as a friend of North Korea, China can continue to exert pressure to ensure that the leader of North Korea abides by international norms and progresses the denuclearisation of the weapons program,” Bishop said.

North Korea, on Wednesday, claimed that it successfully tested a miniature hydrogen bomb. The announcement was broadcast by a state-run news agency following an earthquake near the known testing site. The country said it would not use its nuclear weapons unless it is threatened by the United States. But North Korea declined to give up its nuclear program as long the US doesn’t drop its policies against it.

However, experts have claimed that a hydrogen bomb blast would have caused a severe earthquake.