Wong warns North Korea threatens ‘our security’

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has held a media conference on the border of North Korea to take aim at the hermit state for its “escalatory” missile tests and “destabilising” defence pact with Russia.

Senator Wong made the remarks in the South Korean border city of Paju after visiting the demilitarised zone, a large strip of land dividing the Koreas. The North and South are technically still at war.

She said the visit to the DMZ served as a “reminder of just how hard it is for peace to be attained”.

“Australia stands in solidarity with the Republic of Korea,” Ms Wong said.

“We continue, alongside the international community, to condemn North Korea’s ballistic missile launches, which threaten our security, the security of our friends and partners including South Korea and Japan.”

The minister, who was in the South after attending diplomatic summits in Laos and Japan, reiterated Australia’s support for all UN Security Council resolutions targeting North Korea, which she said were undermined by Moscow’s mutual defence pact with Pyongyang.

Under the deal, Russia and North Korea committed to defend each other if either were attacked.

“This is risky for the world, and, again, we see Russia behaving in ways a which are forgot conducive to peace but are escalatory,” Senator Wong said.

She also accused North Korea of transferring weapons to Russia, slamming it as a “a flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions.”

Ukrainian authorities and UN monitors have reported North Korean-made munitions being used by Russian forces in Ukraine.

Russia and North Korea have rejected claims of any arms transfers.

Noting Australia’s participation in joint military exercises with South Korea, Minister Wong said Canberra would continue look at ways to “deepen” defence ties with Seoul and floated co-operation with AUKUS.