Julie Bishop steps up the rhetoric over the regional and global threats posed by the hermit nation

NORTH Korea was top of the agenda when Julie Bishop met Boris Johnson for talks in London, but the UK Foreign Secretary’s unruly tie pulled focus.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s weapons program continues to be a concern for the global community. Picture: AFP

NORTH Korea poses a global threat and its increasingly belligerent behaviour must be reined in,

according to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

Ms Bishop made the remarks in London after meeting UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson for talks on labour markets, the war on terrorist group Islamic state, and the actions of the hermit nation North Korea.

But Mr Johnson’s tie threatened to pull focus during their joint photo call, with the normally-hidden skinny part of the tie in full view, complete with label.

Ms Bishop took matters into her own hands, doing what she could to bring the offending garment under control.

Boris Johnson’s tie was in quite a state when he met Foreign Minister Julie Bishop for talks in London. Picture: Jack Taylor/AP

Bishop — who is known for her immaculate grooming — decided to assist the British Foreign Secretary with his tie. Picture: Jack Taylor/AP

That’ll do. Bishop beams during a handshake with Johnson. Picture: Jack Taylor/AP

Under leader Kim Jong-un, North Korea has been ramping up its military aggression. Ms Bishop said she had discussed the issue with Mr Johnson today, and in Washington earlier this week.

“I was in South Korea last weekend and had detailed discussions and briefings on North Korea’s

recent behaviour,’’ she said.

“Likewise the United States’ administration is keen to review the situation if North Korea continues its belligerent and provocative behaviour.

“It clearly has been increasing its ballistic missile capability, its nuclear program, and we discussed the ways we could work with China to seek to curb its (North Korea’s) behaviour and how we can bring more pressure to bear on the regime to change its provocative and belligerent attitude towards South Korea, Japan, United States and others.’’

The secretive regime in Pyongyang brutally represses its people, and in recent years has been trying to prove its strength by test-firing missiles and making aggressive statements about its sworn enemy, South Korea, and other western democracies.

The Australian Foreign Minister heads to Ireland next as part of a whirlwind trip. Picture: AFP/Daniel Leal-Olivas

“We share the view that North Korea not only presents a threat to South Korea and instability on the Korean Peninsula, but it is a regional threat and a global threat,’’ Ms Bishop said.

“It must be curbed so we had discussions in Washington and here in London about the situation in North Korea.’’

During a press conference at Downing Street in Whitehall, Ms Bishop confirmed that planning was underway for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to meet US President Donald Trump.

North Korea has been testing missiles as it shows the world its military might. Picture: AFP/Kim Won-Jin

She said the infamous phone call between the pair, where Mr Trump railed at Turnbull over a

refugee deal between the two countries, and ended the phone call early, had not been raised “by

anyone’’ in her talks in Washington.

It has been reported Mr Trump and Mr Turnbull could meet in May.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un watching inspecting the test-launch of a surface-to-surface medium long-range ballistic missile. There is growing concern about North Korea’s threat to the global community. Picture: AFP

“The planning is underway as one might expect. In any event they’re likely to meet at some of the global or multilateral summits that are held throughout the year but I am hopeful there will be a bilateral meeting as soon as possible,’’ she said.

Ms Bishop is now travelling to Dublin in Ireland for talks with ministers and to visit Australian

businesses, before returning to Australia.