If North Korea continues to launch missiles "there will be a conflict'', Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.
The rogue nation fired another ballistic missile yesterday morning (NZ time) that landed in Japan's territorial sea.
It is the first since two missiles were fired over Japan in August and September.
"If this goes on there will be a conflict, yes, and that will be a tragedy for the whole world and particularly the Korean people, both North and South,'' Mr Peters said yesterday.
He was reluctant to comment on what role New Zealand would play in any conflict against North Korea.
"We're not going to talk about losing this battle, we're talking about being positive and trying to turn the North Korean regime around and we'll do our best to do that,'' he said.
That could involve opening dialogue directly with North Korea, something Mr Peters has indicated a willingness and want to do in the past.
He wants to make it clear that if it stops its nuclear activities countries such as New Zealand would be out to help its economy recover quickly through economic packages.
He previously visited the nation in 2007 in a failed attempt to negotiate peace with then leader Kim Jong-il.
"We're part of the international community. There'll be meetings very soon expressing the international community's concern and thinking about what more can be done and so I'd rather wait until that happens,'' he said.
For now the Government is continuing to back United Nations sanctions on North Korea for its "unbelievable, regrettable'' actions.
Firing ballistic missiles goes against UN Security Council resolutions.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said earlier this month New Zealand could play a greater role on nuclear non-proliferation, including in North Korea, and echoed Mr Peters' concern over the latest incident.
She said New Zealand should be using Mr Peters' experience in this arena but said there were no immediate plans for his involvement.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee has also expressed concerns about escalating behaviour by North Korea.
"This latest launch reinforces North Korea's belligerent attitude to the many affected countries' concerns over escalating tension,'' he said.
