Australia says it would come to US aid if North Korea attacks

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbul. (AP)

WASHINGTON: Australia’s prime minister says his country would come to the aid of the United States if North Korea attacks Guam.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told Melbourne Radio 3AW: “We would come to the aid of the United States. How that manifests itself will obviously depend on the circumstances and consultations with our allies.”
Turnbull added: “If North Korea decides to carry out some of its violent threats, then obviously terrible consequences will follow.”
The prime minister says he discussed the threat with US Vice President Mike Pence overnight.
Turnbull says: “The United States knows as we know and as Donald Trump reaffirmed ... that America stands by its allies including Australia of course and we stand with the United States.”
He added: “It is absolutely rock solid and everyone understands that. In terms of defense, we are joined at the hip.”
The United Nations says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “troubled” by the escalating rhetoric from all sides in the North Korea nuclear dispute.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric says Guterres “welcomes all initiatives that will help de-escalate the tensions and a return to diplomacy.”
Asked Thursday whether the secretary-general could be a mediator, Dujarric says, “He is always willing to do so.”
The UN in the past has had an envoy for North Korea, but Dujarric says “every situation is different and it’s important not to make empty gestures.”
Dujarric says Guterres welcomed the UN Security Council’s adoption last Saturday of a resolution imposing new sanctions on North Korea, including banning any coal, iron lead and seafood exports, and is urging all UN member states to implement it.