North Korea Crisis Has Come to a Head, Says Aussie Ambassador to U.S.

North Korea Crisis Has Come to a Head, Says Aussie Ambassador to U.S.
Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Joe Hockey, has said, "Strategic patience is a failed policy" in relation to North Korea’s weapons program. (Daniel Munoz/Getty Images)
12/11/2017
Updated:
12/11/2017

The Australian ambassador to the United States has said he supports President Donald Trump’s “unconventional approach” to dealing with the brewing crisis over North Korea’s weapons program.

Speaking at a forum in Canberra, ambassador Joe Hockey said that past policy of strategic patience in dealing with Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear programs had failed, reported The New Daily.

“The biggest risk to world peace at the moment is North Korea and strategic patience just didn’t work,” said Hockey, a former Australian federal treasurer.

Hockey said, “rolling over and tickling the tummy of Kim Jong-un is not the answer” to dealing with the issue of the threat posed by North Korea.

Hockey said he supported how Trump was approaching the crisis.

“You’ve got to be unconventional because conventional, traditional channels are not working in certain areas,” Hockey said.

“History tells us a lesson that you can’t let crazy people have weapons that can cause enormous harm and have a displayed history of being fearless in the deployment of weapons against even his own family as Kim Jong-un has done. And it has to come to a head.”

Pyongyang’s weapons development program poses a threat to Australia, he said.

“We’re a target. Our cities are targets. Our people are targets. This guy’s unhinged,” he said, referring to North Korean leader Kim. “[And] we’ve got to protect our people as the United States has to protect its people.”

North Korea test launched its Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile on Nov. 28 and boasted it was a great success, saying it has the range to hit key cities in the continental United States, such as Washington D.C.

Trump’s Economic Policies

Hockey also said that Trump’s economic policies were working in the U.S. and gave him a gold star for economic management, reported The Australian.

He pointed at indicators such as the drop in the U.S. unemployment rate and wage growth.

“He’s done a lot in the first year. A hell of a lot reducing regulation, red tape,” said Hockey who added that there was visible momentum in America’s economy.

He said that for the first time since 2000, the number of Americans that believe the economy is moving in the right direction surpasses those who do not.

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From NTD