Donald Trump's combative rhetoric has helped North Korea crisis: Julie Bishop

September 30, 2017

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has backed US President Donald Trump’s combative rhetoric against North Korea, crediting him with bringing China to the negotiating table.

Ms Bishop said the careful and patient approach of Barack Obama had not worked and Mr Trump had at least “changed the debate”.

North Korea says US has ‘declared war’

North Korea’s foreign minister says Pyongyang reserves the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down US strategic bombers.

Trump defends response to Puerto Rico

US President Donald Trump defended his administration’s response to the devastation in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.

US embassy staff to leave Cuba

Sources say the US is getting ready to withdraw some staff from the American embassy in Havana in response to a series of mysterious attacks that have harmed the health of some US diplomats there.

OJ Simpson set to be released

The football hall-of-famer, who was granted parole in July after serving nine years of a 33-year sentence for armed robbery, could be released from a Nevada prison by Monday.

Museum Brings Model T Driving to the Masses

Museum Brings Model T Driving to the …

Museum Brings Model T Driving to the Masses

A different kind of driving lesson is gaining traction in Michigan, where more than 500 people have learned to drive Henry Fordâ€™s historic Model T.

Islamic State releases audio of leader

Believed to have been killed months ago, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi purportedly emerges in a new recording making reference to recent world events.

Twitter’s ‘inadequate’ response to Russia meddling

Twitter’s ‘inadequate’ response to Russia …

Twitter’s ‘inadequate’ response to Russia meddling

The top Democrat probing Russian interference in the US election says he is deeply disappointed with Twitter’s response ‘at almost every level’.

Arrest made in killer clown cold case

Police say advances in DNA technology led to an arrest 27 years after a Florida woman was fatally shot on her doorstep by someone in a clown costume.

North Korea says US has ‘declared war’

North Korea’s foreign minister says Pyongyang reserves the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down US strategic bombers.

Kim Jong-un’s regime has repeatedly tested Mr Trump’s resolve since he came to power this year, detonating a thermonuclear device and launching a number of test missiles. In response, the US President has promised “fire and fury” the likes of which the world has never seen.

Despite the threat of nuclear war, Mr Trump has dubbed the North Korean dictator “Little Rocket Man” and threatened to “totally destroy” the rogue nation if it continues to provoke the United States. Pynongyang said it regarded those comments as a “declaration of war”.

Ms Bishop said people need to keep the recent months of bellicose rhetoric in perspective.

“North Korea has been carrying out illegal ballistic tests and illegal nuclear missile tests long before President Trump was inaugurated,” she told the ABC’s Insiders on Sunday.

Despite international consternation over Mr Trump’s approach, Ms Bishop indicated she believed it was proving strategically effective because it was drawing China – Pynongyang’s only real economic ally – into a much more central role.

Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox.

“I actually believe that the Chinese recalculated their risk when President Trump upped the ante in terms of rhetoric,” she said. “China now sees that it must play a role and I’ve been pleased to see that China has backed the two UN Security Council resolutions imposing the toughest and most comprehensive set of sanctions on North Korea yet.”

The Foreign Minister said Mr Trump’s approach was very different to the “strategic patience” approach adopted by the Obama administration.

“Clearly that didn’t work because during that period North Korea tested more missiles, and developed its nuclear weapons program to a point where we fear that North Korea has the capability to attach a miniaturised nuclear weapon to an intercontinental ballistic missile that may have the capacity to reach the United States. So it’s a changed debate,” she said.

Ms Bishop said US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had briefed her on America’s “back channel” contact with North Korea.

Opposition defence spokesman Richard Marles said it was important to pursue every diplomatic and peaceful avenue.

“It absolutely involves making sure there is dialogue between all the parties involved,” he told Sky News. “I think there is still a fair way to go in terms of trying to shape North Korea’s behaviour.”

Article source: http://watoday.com.au/queensland/alleged-whistleblower-cop-rick-flori-to-run-for-election-20170924-p4yw2j.html