Interview with Leigh Sales - 7.30, ABC

LEIGH SALES: Foreign Minister, what's theAustralian Government's reaction to what's been signed today?

JULIE BISHOP: We most certainly welcome the signing of adeclaration between President Trump and Kim Jong-un. This is an historic day,not only because it is the first time that a sitting US President has met witha North Korean Leader, but also building on the Summit between the leaders ofNorth and South Korea, this is the first positive development we've seeninvolving North Korea in over a decade.

We arecautiously optimistic, but of course, the test will be verification of thedenuclearisation. We welcome the fact that North Korea has committed tocomplete denuclearisation and also a lasting and stable peace on the KoreanPeninsula.

LEIGH SALES: How can such commitments, and indeed, theagreement overall have any credibility when the two leaders signing it are erraticand unreliable?

JULIE BISHOP: We have to see the outcome of thisdeclaration. As President Trump has said, complete denuclearisation means thecomplete, verifiable, irreversible dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weaponsprogram, and that will thereby remove a real risk to our region and the world. Butwe will have to see the concrete, genuine steps that North Korea takes.

It is abreakthrough. There has been a document signed by a US President and a NorthKorean leader committing to denuclearisation and a lasting and stable peace onthe Korean Peninsula.

LEIGH SALES: What sort of verification do youthink would be required to sort of – cross a bar for assurance?

JULIE BISHOP: It would certainly be an historic day whenthe last nuclear weapon that North Korea currently holds is dismantled. The InternationalAtomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, has experience in this kind of work. Mostcertainly the United States will want to be personally satisfied thatdenuclearisation has taken place and will no doubt be part of that verificationprocess. We, in Australia, theAustralian Government is currently assessing, what we could offer in terms ofexpertise to assist in that verification process. I imagine it will be the IAEAtogether with global experts to complete the verification process that NorthKorea has in fact denuclearised.

LEIGH SALES: What does it say that DonaldTrump's Administration sees a 'special place in hell' for the Canadian PrimeMinister Justin Trudeau, traditionally one of America's closest allies, and yetthe US President claims a very special bond with Kim Jong-un, one of theworld's most notorious dictators and recalcitrant?

JULIE BISHOP: There is a great deal of rhetoric at present.I am certainly not going to buy into the commentary between the US and Canadaapart from urging both sides to amicably resolve their trade disputes. It is innobody's interests for the United States and Canada to have tensions over anyissue, let alone over trade.

We mostcertainly urging both sides to negotiate their trade differences and if theyare not able to resolve them then of course to resort to the World TradeOrganisation where trade disputes are resolved. The separate issue of course isthis breakthrough, yet to be verified, but nevertheless a breakthrough, withNorth Korea. I am cautiously optimistic about achieving the goals that havebeen set out in that Declaration.

LEIGH SALES: Regarding that attack by President Trump onCanada earlier this week, how concerned is Australia to see a close allytreated like that? Does it give Australia pause in imagining that Australiawould be immune from similar sort of treatment?

JULIE BISHOP: We are certainly urging the United States andCanada to resolve their differences. It is in nobody's interests for there tobe any tensions between the United States and Canada. They are two longstanding,close allies. They are very dear and close allies of Australia, so we want toensure that any tensions or any difficulties are resolved as soon as possible.

LEIGH SALES: On the split in the G7between the US and the other six nations, who does Australia sidewith, Trump or the European nations and Canada?

JULIE BISHOP: It is not a question of siding. Australia iscommitted to open and liberalised trade and investment. We have had differencesof opinion with the United States over this, the current Administration. Wewere able to extract an exemption from the United States over the imposition ofsteel and aluminium tariffs on products from Australia. We are committed toopen trade, liberalised trade and investment. We urge the United States to continueto be a leader in ensuring that the benefits of free and open trade cancontinue to be felt by citizens around the world.

LEIGH SALES: Julie Bishop, thanks for makingtime to speak to us.

JULIE BISHOP: My pleasure.