President Donald Trump on Thursday warned of a potential "major, major conflict" with North Korea during an interview with Reuters. | AP Photo Trump: North Korea 'disrespected the wishes of China' with missile test

President Donald Trump said North Korea "disrespected" the Chinese government by launching another ballistic missile test Friday.

"North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad!" the president said in a tweet.


North Korea launched a failed mid-range ballistic missile test, South Korea reported about 5 p.m. ET, which was widely condemned by Seoul and other U.S. allies.

Trump was briefed on the launch, according to a statement from the press secretary's office.

The president on Thursday warned of a potential "major, major conflict" with North Korea during an interview with Reuters, while stressing that a diplomatic approach would be preferable.

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During an interview on Fox on Friday, the president again stressed the importance of China's role in resolving the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and North Korea, while cautioning that more severe measures may be required for China to handle North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un's regime.

“It may have to be a much more difficult ending, to be honest with you, but [Chinese President Xi Jinping is] trying,” he said.

The Trump administration has in recent days urged a diplomatic resolution with North Korea while warning of a larger potential conflict between it and the U.S.

On Friday, a day after stating his preference for direct talks with the insular east Asian country, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson cautioned the United Nations Security Council against normalizing relations.

“In light of North Korea's recent actions, normal relations with the [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] are simply not acceptable," he said.

The president has remained steadfast, however, in praising the diplomatic actions of Chinese President Xi.

“I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesn’t want to see turmoil and death. He doesn’t want to see it," Trump told Reuters Thursday. "He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well."

Congressional Republicans, meanwhile, have begun to ramp up their rhetoric against North Korea, with Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy announcing Thursday that the House would be voting on further economic sanctions on the country next week.

"The time for waiting on North Korea to get its act together is over," he said in a statement released Thursday.