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Australian Government 'Utterly Condemns' North Korea Nuclear Test

The government has described North Korea's actions as posing "grave danger to global peace and security".

The Australian Government has released a statement joining the international community in condemning North Korea's nuclear missile tests.

On Sunday, North Korea confirmed it had successfully completed a hydrogen bomb test, using a nuclear weapon it claims can be loaded onto a ballistic missile, after the state experienced a 6.3 magnitude earthquake -- a result of the nuclear test.

In a joint statement, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop and Minister for Defence Marise Payne said North Korea's actions are placing the global community in harm's way.

"North Korea is the only country that is testing nuclear weapons, and responsibility for the increasing tensions in the region sits with Pyongyang," the statement read.

"North Korea's reckless conduct poses a grave danger to global peace and security."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the test of a hydrogen bomb.
KCNA KCNA / Reuters
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the test of a hydrogen bomb.

The Government is calling on the United Nations Security Council to impose further measures to put pressure on North Korea to cease nuclear testing.

"Australia utterly condemns North Korea's flagrant defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which ban nuclear weapons development and testing by Kim Jong-un's regime.

"We call for the UN Security Council to urgently consider further strong measures ... to apply the maximum possible pressure to this dangerous pariah regime."

North Korea has now detonated its sixth nuclear test that is estimated to be between 10 and 20 times more powerful than previous attempts.

The Australian Government has confirmed it will continue to support tough sanctions on North Korea including bans on North Korean exports and bans on work permits for North Korean migrant workers.

"Australia is doing its part to exert pressure on North Korea through our full implementation of UNSC sanctions and our autonomous sanctions regime," the statement said.

"We will continue to work with our ally and partners to change North Korea's behaviour and deter it from threatening the region and the world with illegal weapons."

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