China must put more pressure on neighbour and ally North Korea, as fears grow over the country’s nuclear threat, according to U. S. Vice President Mike Pence and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull warned the eyes of the world are on Beijing, calling for China to rein in North Korea during a press conference with U. S. Vice President on Saturday.
‘We are quietly confident, I would say, that China will step up to this challenge and responsibility.
‘China has a leverage, an ability to influence North Korea that far exceeds any others.’
North Korea’s latest missile test fizzled last weekend, but it conducted two nuclear test explosions and 24 ballistic missile tests last year.
‘It is self-evident that China has the opportunity and responsibility to stop this reckless and dangerous trajectory,’ Mr Turnbull said
The Australian Prime Minister further added that China ‘has a leverage, an ability to influence North Korea that far exceeds any others’.
Mr Pence characterised North Korea as an ‘urgent and most dangerous threat’ to peace and security in the Asia Pacific.
‘While all options are on the table, let me assure you the United States will continue to work closely with Australia, our other allies in the region and China to bring economic and diplomatic pressure to bear on the regime,’ he said.
Tensions between the US and the North have soared recently following a drumbeat of missile tests and fears that Pyongyang may be readying a sixth nuclear test.
Mr Pence said a peaceful outcome with the Korean peninsula was still achievable because of warming ties between Beijing and Washington.
‘We truly believe that, as our allies in the region and China bring that pressure to bear, there is a chance that we can achieve a historic objective of a nuclear-free Korea peninsula by peaceful means,’ Mr Pence said.
‘We are encouraged by the steps that China has taken so far,’ he said at a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull said it was ‘self-evident’ China was capable of applying more pressure ton North Korea, but dismissed questions whether Australia would be involved in any future regime.
‘At this stage, the support we are providing is at the level of diplomacy [and] is of critical importance,’ Mr Turnbull said.
Mr Pence echoed Mr Turnbull’s calls for China to play an active role in pressuring North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile programs.
‘If China is unable to deal with North Korea, the United States and our allies will,’ Mr Pence said.
‘We know that our security is the foundation of our prosperity.’
Mr Pence was also questioned about the refugee agreement between Australia and the US, after President Trump labelled it a ‘dumb deal’ on social media.
He said: ‘The US intends to honour the refugee agreement. President Trump has made it clear we’ll honour the agreement but it doesn’t mean he admires it.’
Mr Pence said he had confirmed to Mr Turnbull the agreement was going ahead and they had already initiated the process subject to vetting procedures.
Mr Turnbull thanked Mr Pence for honouring the deal made by his predecessor Barack Obama.
‘Whatever the reservations of the President are about the deal it speaks volumes about the United States. Thank you for that commitment and for restating that today,’ Mr Turnbull said.
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