China-North Korea Connection (Photo : Getty Images)
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is trying to convince China to stop its economic assistance to North Korea to prevent it from causing fear and threatening the security of countries in the region.
A report by news.com.au said that the Australian leader is not overestimating China's influence on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but he said that he had discussed the North Korean aggression issue with Chinese officials some years ago.
Turnbull added that since he took office as prime minister, he had already called attention to the North Korean problem with the Chinese leadership.
"China, if it wishes to, it can cut off North Korea's economic lifeline to the world," Turnbull said in an interview with ABC radio on Wednesday, April 12.
Turnbull, however, admitted that the Chinese even find it difficult to deal with Kim Jong-un, but the Australian leader believed China has the leverage to negotiate with the North Korean government.
"The eyes of the world are on Beijing," Turnbull said.
As tensions between the U.S. and North Korea continue, U.S. President Donald Trump and his deputy Mike Pence have warned Pyongyang against making military action.
Last week, North Korea's latest missile test failed, but last year, it successfully carried out two nuclear tests and 24 ballistic missiles test.
Australian opposition Leader Bill Shorten has also warned that ignoring the North Korean problem would be dangerous, adding that "you'd have to be a fool" not to be worried. He called for a bolder action in dealing with the rogue nation.
Turnbull said that North Korea's nuclear capabilities threaten the political stability of countries even beyond the Asia-Pacific region.
"[North Korea is a] reckless and dangerous threat to peace and stability in our region and, indeed, in the world," Turnbull said.
"If it were able to obtain [and] develop a missile that could travel as far as the United States with a warhead, or as far as Australia, then it obviously could threaten Australia and, indeed, the United States.
"My message is to Australians, that their government, my government, is committed to ensuring that the North Korean regime acts responsibly," Turnbull added.
