Australia will urge its Asian neighbours to redouble their sanctions against North Korea in a bid to intensify pressure on dictator Kim Jong-un after an apparent breakthrough in the global effort to stop his nuclear weapons program.

The regional show of force will be on the agenda when Asian leaders fly into Sydney within days for a summit with Malcolm Turnbull, with Australia preparing to enforce tougher sanctions and hoping others do the same.

Mr Turnbull is also hoping to speak to Donald Trump by telephone this weekend to offer Australian support on dealing with North Korea, while also thanking the US President for offering special treatment for Australia on steel tariffs and possibly discussing regional security in the South China Sea.

The Prime Minister has backed new US sanctions that seek to halt oil shipments to the rogue state, amid fears that Chinese and other vessels are transferring goods between ships at sea to evade earlier trade barriers.