North Korea warns Australia of possible nuclear strike if it 'blindly toes US line'

Foreign ministry spokesman quoted as saying Julie Bishop's comments can never be pardoned and Pyongyang is acting only in self-defence

North Korea has bluntly warned Australia of a possible nuclear strike if Canberra persists in "blindly and zealously toeing the US line".

North Korea's state new agency (KCNA) quoted a foreign ministry spokesman castigating Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, after she said the rogue nation would be subject to further Australian sanctions and for "spouting a string of rubbish against the DPRK over its entirely just steps for self-defence".