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

Thank you, Senator Wong. Australia is participating in the UN Security Council resolutions and supports the resolutions demanding the end of North Korea's ballistic and nuclear programs. We are participating in the sanctions regime adopted on 5 August which banned whole export sectors—coal, iron, iron ore and seafood—from the North Korean economy. These are by far the toughest sanctions yet and will be fully implemented by all countries, including Australia, as soon as possible. When fully implemented, the sanctions will place unprecedented pressure on the North Korean economy and significantly increase the costs on Pyongyang to cease its illegal activities and freeze and eventually abandon these programs. We welcome the robust response from China to this provocation and we call on China to put its words into action and use its unique leverage over Pyongyang. (Time expired)