Australia warns nuclear weapons could spread across region

(Baonghean.vn) - Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop warned that nuclear weapons could spread throughout the region if the world cannot stop North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

However, Foreign Minister Bishop believes Pyongyang can be deterred from threatening its neighbours “if we make it clear that any attack on the US or our allies will be met with a strong response”, and Australia has not given up on deterrence by peaceful means.

The Australian foreign minister stressed that the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (the US, China, Russia, the UK and France) need to take the lead in protecting the international legal system and implementing current resolutions banning trade and investment with North Korea.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop believes North Korea's nuclear ambitions can be stopped. Photo: AP

“Failure to comply with current resolutions and to curb North Korea’s ambitions could embolden other states to take unlawful actions in pursuit of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction,” Ms. Bishop stressed.

The consequences would be increased proliferation of nuclear weapons and a weakening of confidence in agreements to prevent their spread, increased risks of adversaries in Northeast Asia and the Middle East using existing nuclear capabilities and developing new ones, and increased risks of international chaos.”

Several countries could potentially acquire nuclear weapons as a deterrent to North Korea, including Japan and South Korea, along with Iran, Saudi Arabia and even Türkiye.

Ms Bishop stressed that Canberra supported the US in “considering all options”, including the use of force to stop North Korea.

“The threat of nuclear attack on another country is more frightening than ever,” she said. “The North Korean regime has publicly stated its intention to develop a nuclear-armed ICBM capable of reaching the United States. That would put Australia, a key US ally, in its crosshairs, although we are not the primary target.”

North Korea is expected to conduct another missile test soon, possibly around the time of China's 19th Party Congress later this month./.

Lan Ha

(According to Sydney Morning Herald)