Steve Lewis
Chief political correspondent
The Australian
AS rumours spread this morning of a second North Korean nuclear test - later confirmed as an earth tremor - John Howard and Cambodia's leader Samdech Hun Sen firmly condemned the rogue state's actions.
Speaking after a 30-minute meeting with his prime ministerial counterpart, Mr Howard intensified his call for "strong action" by the United Nations against Pyongnang.
He said that if North Korea had detonated a second bomb, it would "only further increase our concern and the concern of the world and re-emphasise the critical importance of the United Nations acting with one voice".
While the reports were "fragmentary and incomplete," Mr Howard said government agencies - including Geoscience Australia - were monitoring the situation.
"This is a very difficult situation, the options for the world are few .... the best response of the world is to act in unison and even an outlaw rogue state such as North Korea will take notice of the rest of the world, including countries like China,'' Mr Howard said.
Australia is the third largest aid donor to Cambodia and Mr Howard announced further initiatives to assist the impoverished country.
Building on $150 million in aid given to Cambodia over the past five years, Australia will provide $45 million to help the country’s rice crop and $30 million to assist its fledgling criminal justice system.
Speaking after a 30-minute meeting with his prime ministerial counterpart, Mr Howard intensified his call for "strong action" by the United Nations against Pyongnang.
He said that if North Korea had detonated a second bomb, it would "only further increase our concern and the concern of the world and re-emphasise the critical importance of the United Nations acting with one voice".
While the reports were "fragmentary and incomplete," Mr Howard said government agencies - including Geoscience Australia - were monitoring the situation.
"This is a very difficult situation, the options for the world are few .... the best response of the world is to act in unison and even an outlaw rogue state such as North Korea will take notice of the rest of the world, including countries like China,'' Mr Howard said.
Australia is the third largest aid donor to Cambodia and Mr Howard announced further initiatives to assist the impoverished country.
Building on $150 million in aid given to Cambodia over the past five years, Australia will provide $45 million to help the country’s rice crop and $30 million to assist its fledgling criminal justice system.
1 comment:
Why does Australia not adopt contrcutive engagement policy with North Korea, South Africa, Saddam Hussein's Iraq the same way it does with Burma and Cambodia?
What a political hypocricy.
SiS
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