Statement on North Korea missile launches

The Australian Government condemns the continuing pattern of provocative and destabilising missile launches conducted by North Korea in contravention of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, including the launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile on 30 January 2022.

North Korea's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles poses a grave threat to international peace and security and is contrary to global and regional interests in a stable, secure and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

Permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula can only be achieved through dialogue. Australia again calls on North Korea to refrain from further provocations and make a sustained commitment to meaningful talks with the United States and the Republic of Korea.

Australia is committed to maintaining and enforcing sanctions against North Korea until it takes clear steps to abandon its nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner. We supplement UN Security Council sanctions with our own autonomous sanctions against North Korea. Australia calls on nations to assist with UN Security Council sanctions and to take steps to prevent sanctions evasion.

We will continue to work with our allies and security partners, including the United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan, to uphold peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.