Trump 'disappointed' with China after North Korea missile test

End of Twitter post 2 by @realDonaldTrump

On Saturday, China condemned the test launch and urged restraint on all sides.

But Mr Trump voiced frustration at Beijing's response, linking the US trade deficit with China with policy on North Korea.

"I am very disappointed in China. Our foolish past leaders have allowed them to make hundreds of billions of dollars a year in trade, yet they do NOTHING for us with North Korea, just talk," he wrote in two consecutive tweets.

"We will no longer allow this to continue. China could easily solve this problem!"

• Why Beijing should lead on the North Korean crisis

China, which shares a land border with North Korea, is its closest economic ally and trading partner.

Image copyrightAFP

Image captionNorth Korean TV showed pictures of leader Kim Jong-un celebrating the launch

President Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping discussed North Korea during talks earlier this year, after which US officials said the two countries were working on "a range of options" to rein in Pyongyang.

But since then the North has carried out two ICBM tests.

• How the US might defend itself
• Are Alaskans scared of Kim Jong-un?

After Saturday's launch, South Korea said it was concerned the North may have made "a significant advancement in technology", adding that the missile test was "unique in its time and place of launch".

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the threat to his country's security was "grave and real".

The North has repeatedly tested missiles in breach of UN resolutions.

ICBMs can reach altitudes well outside the earth's atmosphere. Using sharp trajectories with high altitudes allows North Korea to avoid firing over neighbouring countries.

Despite the ongoing tests, experts believe the North does not yet have the capability to miniaturise a nuclear warhead, fit it on to a long-range missile, and ensure it is protected until delivery to the target.

Others, however, believe that at the rate it is going, Pyongyang may overcome these challenges and develop a nuclear weapon within five to 10 years that could strike the US.