Australia welcomes North Korea sanctions

The federal government has backed tough new sanctions imposed on North Korea by the United Nations, hailing them as a strong message to the rogue regime.

The new measures include restrictions on oil and petrol, widening extensive bans on exports and imports like food, machinery and vessels, and a crackdown on ships smuggling banned items to and from the country.

The resolution also demands North Koreans working overseas return home within two years.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the resolution is another demonstration to North Korea its "illegal and threatening" actions will not be tolerated by the international community.

"These tighter sanctions will impose significant costs on North Korea and further restrict its ability to fund and operate its weapons programs," Ms Bishop said in a statement on Saturday.

The latest round of sanctions was unanimously approved by the UN Security Council in response to North Korea's latest launch of a ballistic missile, which the regime says is capable of reaching the United States mainland.

Ms Bishop said Australia will move quickly to uphold the measures and encouraged other nations to fully implement the sanctions.