South Korea and Australia voiced strong concerns Friday over rising tensions caused by North Korea's continued provocations and emphasized the importance of diplomatic efforts to tackle the current nuclear stalemate.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Defense Minister Song Young-moo met with their Australian counterparts, Julie Bishop and Marise Payne, in Seoul for the third biennial "two-plus-two" talks, which were launched in 2013.

"We shared our deep concerns that the North's nuclear threats have reached a level never seen before after its recent sixth nuclear test," Kang told reporters during a joint press conference held after the meeting. "In particular, we strongly condemned the North for explicitly violating UN Security Council resolutions."

"We also agreed that diplomatic efforts should be made to peacefully achieve a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization. ... Both sides noted that sanctions and pressure against the North are diplomatic tools to make the North free of nuclear weapons."

The meeting comes amid rising tensions sparked by North Korea's continued provocations, including a series of ballistic missile launches and a sixth nuclear test held last month. A bombastic exchange of bellicose rhetoric between the leaders of North Korea and the US have also heightened the tensions further.

Australian Foreign Minister Bishop reaffirmed her country's commitment to working together with South Korea in countering the North's nuclear and missile development aspirations. The minister also urged the North to come back to negotiating table to discuss the nuclear issue.

"We stand united with the ROK against the provocative and threatening behavior of North Korea," she said. ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, the official name of South Korea.

"And we have a very significant discussion on the ways that we can work together through deep cooperation and collaboration with a view to deterring any future illegal test by North Korea and to compel North Korea back to the negotiating table with an aim of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula," she added.

The ministers stressed the need for a diplomatic approach toward the North and stably manage the security situation.

The Australian foreign minister, in particular, expressed concerns that excessive tensions and any possible military conflict on the Korean Peninsula should be avoided no matter what.

"Any military conflict on the Korean Peninsula will be catastrophic," she said. "That is why Australia has joined the ROK and other nations, including the US, to embark on this collective strategy of maximizing diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea.

"Our focus is ensuring that we can bring North Korea back to the negotiating table as soon as possible," she noted.

"Should there be any attack on the United States or its territories, Australia would support the US -- that is a history, commitment and responsibility. But our focus is on ensuring that military intervention, military conflict does not eventuate,"

Bishop also said.

The Australian defense minister announced that two Australian warships will visit South Korea in the following days as part of the two countries' defense exchange.

"In the coming days, two of the frigates that are part of the Indo-Pacific Endeavor 2017 Task Force will indeed be visiting Korea. ... It is a chance for members of our mutual defense forces to maintain, engage and develop relations," Payne said.

In a joint statement issued later in the day, meanwhile, the ministers said that it is important to send with an "unequivocal voice" the message that the international community will not accept North Korea as a nuclear state.

They also agreed to seek "all necessary measures" for the North to fulfill its international obligations, calling on Pyongyang to refrain from provocative behavior to abandon all nuclear weapons and programs.

The Australian ministers also renewed their support for the Seoul government's push to improve inter-Korean relations and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

"Ministers Julie Bishop and Marise Payne reaffirmed their strong support for actions and initiatives that would deliver peace and security to the Peninsula," the statement said.

"ROK Ministers outlined the policy visions and the initiatives presented in the 'Berlin Initiative' which will advance inter-Korean relations and contribute to the peace, security and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula and beyond," it added. (Yonhap)