North Korea missile test: Donald Trump says Pyongyang has 'disrespected' ally China

Donald Trump has condemned North Korea as “disrespecting the wishes of China” after the rogue state fired another failed ballistic missile.

Pyongyang’s unsuccessful test came amid rising tensions with the West as Trump pushed for new economic sanctions and military manoeuvres to be quickly deployed because of its threat to the US.

Writing on Twitter, the US President said North Korea had “disrespected” China and its president Xi Jinping by going ahead with the test.

A US government source said initial indications suggested it was unsuccessful, and officials said the missile did not leave North Korean territory.

It comes as China ordered North Korea to stand down its rocket testing or risk harsh sanctions.

The failed missile was launched from Pukchang Airfield north of the capital Pyongyang at around 9:30pm UK time on Thursday, it is believed.

Trump’s Twitter post read: “North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad!”

The President had already warned of a “major, major conflict” with the communist state if it does not fall in to line.

He said the United States and Kim Jong-un’s state could “absolutely” go to war over its nuclear threat.

US secretary of state Rex Tillerson echoed Trump’s position that all options were on the table if Pyongyang persisted with its nuclear and missile development in a UN Security Council meeting on Friday.

"The threat of a nuclear attack on Seoul, or Tokyo, is real, and it's only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the U.S. mainland," he said.

"Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences."

Trump, who admitted North Korea was his biggest global challenge, said the launch was an affront to the North’s sole main ally – China.

The test is the state’s fourth straight unsuccessful missile test since March.