George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Wong, for that very important question. I can confirm that on Sunday, 3 September the North Korean regime claimed to have conducted a successful test of a nuclear device. The seismic event of approximately 6.1 magnitude is consistent with a nuclear device of significantly higher yield than previously tested by the regime. It was detected at a site where previous nuclear tests have been conducted. North Korea has subsequently claimed this event was the successful test of a hydrogen bomb. This would be the sixth illegal test conducted by Pyongyang. This action represents a serious escalation of tensions in the region. Australia is working with our regional partners to determine the precise nature of the test conducted by North Korea.

Australia utterly condemns this flagrant defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which ban nuclear weapons development and testing by Kim Jong-un's regime. This nuclear weapons test is designed to advance North Korea's illegal capabilities and test regional and global resolve. North Korea continues to pose a completely unacceptable threat to global peace and stability. It must instead focus its resources on the welfare of its impoverished people. All nations need to fully implement existing UN Security Council resolutions, including the latest, resolution 2371, which further limits the North Korean regime's access to finance through exports. The collective approach we share with our allies and partners has not changed. We are even more determined to stand firmly against this pariah regime and achieve an acceptable resolution to this situation.