Trump and Turnbull plan phone call #2 — this time over North Korea crisis

MALCOLM Turnbull and Donald Trump are planning a phone call about North Korea — and hoping it’ll be more successful than their last.

Donald Trump and Malcolm Turnbull will be hoping this phone call is more successful than their last.

MALCOLM Turnbull and Donald Trump will discuss the North Korean crisis in a phone call on Wednesday.

The US President, who has scheduled the call from the White House Oval Office for 7.45am AEST, has been discussing the deteriorating situation in recent days with other world leaders including Germany’s Angela Merkel and South Korea’s Moon Jae-in.

The Prime Minister told Sydney radio station Nova 96.9 on Tuesday: “We have a very close relationship with the United States in all of these defence and strategic matters, none closer.

“The important point to remember is that everybody wants to get this resolved without conflict.”

Both leaders will be hoping this chat is more productive than their famous telephone clash over a refugee deal early in Mr Trump’s presidency.

South Korea launched a Hyunmoo-2 missile in a live-fire exercise yesterday after North Korea’s sixth nuclear test a day earlier. Picture: AAP Image/Yonhap News Agency

North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test on Sunday.

South Korea’s defence ministry has confirmed North Korea is readying the launch of another missile, possibly an intercontinental ballistic missile. Defence Minister Marise Payne will leave for talks in South Korea on Wednesday. US Defence Secretary James Mattis has warned of “a massive military response” to any threat from North Korea against the US or its allies.

Mr Trump tweeted on Monday the US was considering stopping all trade with any nation doing business with the pariah state — a risk for China, its largest trading partner.

Trade Minister Steven Ciobo said the North Korean situation required a “cool head” and a calculated approach.

He warned a global trade war would result in a global recession. Labor supports tougher and more targeted sanctions as the best path to de-escalation.

“North Korea’s dangerous, provocative aggression is a grave threat to the security of the region and the stability of the world,” Labor leader Bill Shorten told a caucus meeting on Tuesday.

He said China and the US should work closely on “practical steps”.