North Korea Threatens Australia with Nuclear Attack

North Korea has threatened Australia that if it continues to follow the United States 'blindly', it may become a target for a nuclear attack from the country. Julie Bishop, the Australian Foreign Minister, had previously called for increased pressure against North Korea. In response, North Korea's official news agency, citing a spokesperson from its Foreign Ministry, harshly criticized the Australian Foreign Minister. The North Korean Foreign Ministry described Bishop's remarks as 'nonsense against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for its rightful efforts in self-defense.' The North Korean Foreign Ministry stated: 'If Australia insists on following the U.S. in isolating and pressuring the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and remains a tool of its master, the U.S., it would be a suicidal act and would fall within the range of a nuclear attack by the strategic forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.' Julie Bishop stated in a television interview this week that North Korea is a 'serious threat' to Australia and called for international action against the country. The Australian Foreign Minister emphasized in this interview that sanctions send a clear message to Pyongyang that a North Korea armed with nuclear weapons is unacceptable in the region. The threat from Australia of a nuclear attack came after U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's visit to East Asia and Australia. The U.S. Vice President stated on Wednesday that the U.S. would respond 'comprehensively and effectively' to any attack. According to Agence France-Presse, Julie Bishop said on Sunday that the North Korean government should invest in the welfare of its citizens rather than in weapons of mass destruction.