The regime in North Korea needs to have "maximum global political pressure" applied to it after more missile tests on Thursday, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.
Mr Rudd said the short range surface to ship missile tests in the sea off the country's east coast was destabilising behaviour which contributed nothing to stability in the region.
The tests were in defiance of United Nations-imposed financial sanctions and an arms embargo imposed after North Korea conducted a nuclear test in May.
"These tests are condemned by the Australian government," Mr Rudd told reporters during a visit to Kununurra in Western Australia.
He said North Korea should return to the negotiating table in the six-party talks aimed at eliminating nuclear arms from the region.
"I would ask again the North Korean regime to pay attention to the position taken by (US) President Obama and to return to the negotiating table in the six-party talks aimed at the denuclearisation of the Peninsula.
"Our representations to the regime in Pyongyang will be robust and strong," Mr Rudd said.
"Frankly, it's going to be tough but it is very important that everyone continues to apply maximum political and economic pressure on the regime in Pyongyang."
Mr Rudd said Australia would work with the US to try to bring some "semblance of sense" to the North Korean regime.
Earlier in Sydney, Defence Minister John Faulkner called for a halt to the missile tests saying the provocative acts would only serve to further isolate the communist regime.
"The Australian government has been very clear that we believe North Korea must return to its obligations under the UN resolutions. It must comply with those resolutions and, of course, its commitments under the six-party talks," Senator Faulkner told reporters.
"It's very clear that the international community finds North Korea's actions unacceptable."
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