Malcolm Turnbull warns a conflict would have ‘catastrophic consequences’ for the world and economic pressure is the only way to deal with Pyongyang

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Malcolm Turnbull has rejected the wisdom of US president Donald Trump’s vow to respond to North Korea with “fire and fury” if it threatens to attack the United States again, warning a conflict would have “catastrophic consequences” for the world.

Turnbull said the only way to deal with North Korea was with “maximum economic pressure” and he welcomed “new and harsh” sanctions imposed by the United Nations security council on the regime.

He said Australia would implement the sanctions “and others”, and it was critical that North Korea came to its senses.

Bill English, the New Zealand prime minister, went further than Turnbull saying Donald Trump’s comments were “not helpful”.

“I think the comments are not helpful in an environment that is vey tense” he told New Zealand media.

On Tuesday Trump warned further North Korean threats would “be met with fire and the fury like the world has never seen” after Pyongyang threatened “physical” retaliation for the new sanctions.

Trump's dire rhetoric echoes language of North Korean propaganda Read more

“A conflict would be shattering. It would have catastrophic consequences. We all understand that,” Turnbull said on Wednesday.

“The global community, led by the security council, including China and Russia, are all united in seeking to bring the maximum economic pressure on North Korea to bring them to their senses without conflict.

“The critical thing is that this dangerous regime comes to its senses.

“Let’s be very clear about this. The fault in this area, the wrongdoing, is that of the North Korean government. They are the ones who are in breach of UN security council resolutions. They are the ones that are acting illegally. They are the ones that are threatening the peace of the region and the world.”

Experts on North Korea have warned that aggressive rhetoric from the Trump administration could backfire, convincing Kim Jong-un that his regime was in imminent jeopardy and triggering what he sees as a pre-emptive attack.

“It is dangerous and reckless and counterproductive for Donald Trump to threaten the annihilation of North Korea,” said Daryl Kimball, the head of the Washington-based Arms Control Association.

“What we need is a dialogue to reduce tension and avoid catastrophic miscalculation. We are currently on the road to a conflict and we have to get to the off-ramp.”

Turnbull on Wednesday reminded China of its unique relationship with North Korea, saying it had power to influence the regime’s behaviour.

“While every nation should be united in bringing this rogue regime to its senses, we note especially the importance of China’s role as North Korea’s major economic partner, China has unique leverage,” he said.

“And we welcome, in particular, China’s support for these strong and much-more harsh sanctions imposed by the security council.

“The regime must come to its senses and stop its illegal provocations,” he said. “The threats to the peace of the region are coming from Pyongyang.”