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Governments around the world have reacted to the news that North Korea will immediately stop conducting nuclear missile tests, with many political leaders including Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop, welcoming the announcement with caution.
Key points:
- Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the move shows the international pressure and imposed sanctions are working
- Russia calls for US and South Korean military to lower activity in the region in response
- The announcement comes before a summit between the two Korean nations on April 27
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced his country would suspend all nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches because it had completed its goal of developing nuclear weapons, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Speaking in London where she is taking part in the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, Ms Bishop cautiously welcomed the announcement.
"In the past North Korea has made promises and then failed to honour them, so we need to see verifiable steps that it will abandon its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes," Ms Bishop told reporters.
In noting that North Korean had continued to develop its nuclear programme under the previous international policy of strategic patience, she praised the current international position of maximum pressure.
"It certainly shows that the international campaign of maximum diplomatic, political and economic pressure is working," she said.
"Australia was part of that. We imposed economic sanctions and we worked with out countries to impose what we thought was maximum diplomatic, political and economic pressure."
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also reacted to the news with caution, but welcomed the announcement as a positive development.
"What is crucial here, however, is how this development is going to lead to the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of nuclear arms, weapons of mass destruction and missiles," Mr Abe said.
Mr Abe said Tokyo would maintain its policy coordination with Seoul and Washington.
Germany and the United Kingdom echoed Japanese and Australian sentiment, with the British Government saying it hoped Pyongyang's action indicated "an effort to negotiate in good faith".
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the announcement was a step in the right direction but added that Pyongyang must reveal its complete nuclear and missile programme.
"To enter into a serious political process working towards the complete denuclearisation of North Korea, it is however necessary for Pyongyang to follow specific steps and to disclose its complete nuclear and missile programme in a verifiable way," Mr Maas said.
"This demand is in accordance with the expectations of the international community," he added.
The European Union's Foreign Affairs Chief Federica Mogherini also said North Korea's move was a positive step, but called for an "irreversible denuclearisation" of the country.
'Meaningful progress' for the region: Seoul
South Korea's presidential office has suggested "meaningful progress" is being made towards the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
Presidential official Yoon Young-chan said Kim Jong-un's announcement would brighten the prospects for successful talks between Seoul, Pyongyang and Washington.
Mr Jong-un is set to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in at a border truce village next Friday in a rare summit between the rivals aimed at resolving the nuclear standoff with Pyongyang.
China, North Korea's main ally, also welcomed the news from Pyongyang.
The official Xinhua News Agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang as saying "Beijing wishes for North Korea to continue to achieve results in the development of its economy and improving the living standards of its people".
He says China will support North Korea through dialogue and consultations with "relevant parties" to resolve their concerns and improve relations.
ABC/Wires
Topics: donald-trump, unrest-conflict-and-war, world-politics, korea-democratic-peoples-republic-of, asia
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