A majority of Americans in a new survey doesn't trust President Trump to deal with the North Korea as the isolated country advances its nuclear and missile programs.

The NPR-Ipsos poll finds 51 percent of Americans question Trump's ability to handle North Korea.

Forty-four percent of respondents say they do trust Trump to handle the conflict.

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About three-quarters of Democrats, 77 percent, say they don't trust Trump to handle North Korea, while 81 percent of Republicans disagree.

The poll also finds that a majority of respondents thinks the U.S. has an obligation to protect its allies in East Asia.

Seventy-four percent of respondents agree that the U.S. has that obligation, compared to 13 percent who say it does not.

The poll was conducted from Sept. 11 to 12 among 1,005 adults.

It was conducted before North Korea last week fired another ballistic missile over Japan.

South Korea's military said the missile fired from Pyongyang flew about 2,300 miles before landing in the Pacific Ocean.

The move further escalated tensions in the region after North Korea conducted a nuclear test earlier this month.

Earlier this year, Trump intensified his rhetoric on North Korea, warning of "fire and fury" if Pyongyang continued to threaten the U.S.

On Sunday, Trump tweeted that he spoke with South Korea's leader over the weekend and labeled North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "Rocket Man."

"I spoke with President Moon of South Korea last night," Trump tweeted. "Asked him how Rocket Man is doing. Long gas lines forming in North Korea. Too bad!"