Australia will ban North Korean ships from entering its ports, toughening its response to the North's reported nuclear test, the foreign minister announced Monday according to Associated Press.
Australia, a key U.S. ally, strongly backed a U.N. Security Council resolution imposing stiff sanctions on the communist country.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia would impose the port ban in addition to the U.N. sanctions.
"If we are to ban North Korean vessels from visiting Australian ports then I think that will help Australia make a quite clear contribution to the United Nations sanctions regime," Downer told Parliament.