An Australian man has been arrested for allegedly working with North Korea and assisting the hermit state buy weapons of mass destruction.

Chan Han Choi, a 59-year-old from Sydney's west, was apprehended by Australian Federal Police units on Saturday, charged with six charges of brokering and discussing the supply of weapons of mass destruction.

He allegedly has been in contact with 'high-ranking officials' within the regime, attempting to transport oil and coal to countries including Indonesia and Vietnam, provide military expertise and selling missile componentry including software for guidance weapons.

The alleged economic agent has breached Australian and United Nations laws. He will face Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday.

He is the first Australian to ever face these charges.



Chan Han Choi (pictured) was apprehended by Australian Federal Police units on Saturday, charged with brokering and discussing the supply of weapons of mass destruction

He was arrested after allegedly working with North Korea and assisting the hermit state buy weapons of mass destruction

The 59-year-old from Sydney's west was apprehended by Australian Federal Police units on Saturday, charged with brokering and discussing the supply of weapons of mass destruction

Chan has been living in Australia for at least 30 years and his illegal activity is believed to have started in 2008. The charges he is facing relate to alleged offences committed this year.

Police described the Eastwood man as a 'loyal agent of North Korea' who was motivated only to generate money for the government.

They say he generated about $500,000 for the government, but had his attempted transactions be completed they would have been worth tens of millions.

Two attempts were believed to have been made.

'This man was a loyal agent of North Korea, who believed he was acting to serve some higher patriotic purpose,' AFP Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan said.

'I think at the end of the day he would sell whatever he could to make money back for the North Korean government.'

Police described the Eastwood man as a 'loyal agent of North Korea' who was motivated only to generate money for the government

Police allege Chan has broken the Commonwealth Weapons of Mass Destruction Act

Police allege Chan has broken the Commonwealth Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, which prohibits the supply or export of goods that 'may assist the development, production, acquisition or stockpiling of weapons capable of causing mass destruction or missiles capable of delivering such weapons.'

'This case is like nothing we have ever seen on Australia soil,' Mr Gaughan said.

He faces eight years in prison if found guilty. Police are not ruling out charging the man with further offences.

They are speaking to his family and say investigations are ongoing into those individuals.

The AFP said there was no threat or risk to Australians.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull congratulated intelligence officials and AFP units for the investigation.

'It is important for people to know that if they are assisting the North Korean regime, or they are thinking of assisting them, the AFP will find you and arrest you,' he told reporters in Sydney.

He allegedly has been in contact with 'high-ranking officials' within the regime, attempting to transport oil and coal to countries including Indonesia and Vietnam, and selling missile componentry

The UN Security Council has placed three sanctions on North Korea over the past 12 months for their increasingly powerful nuclear and missile tests.

Experts believe Kim Jong-un may be planning another series of trials for Sunday December 17 which marks the anniversary of his father's death.

Previous North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il died on that date in 2011. In the past, Pyongyang has marked such commemorations with rocket tests and military drills.

Speaking while on a visit to Japan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: 'The worst possible thing that could happen would be for us all to sleepwalk into a war that might have very dramatic circumstances.'

Guterres urged sanctions need to be implemented 'by North Korea first of all, but also fully implemented by all the other countries whose role is crucial'.

He urged 'diplomatic engagement that allows for...denuclearisation (of the Korean peninsula) to take place in a peaceful way'.

'It is important for all parties to understand the urgency of finding a solution,' he told reporters at a later briefing.