Trump takes to Twitter to blast Kim Jong Un after new missile test

North Korea launched another ballistic missile early today — prompting a Twitter reaction from President Trump in the latest in a series of tests seen as provocations by the United States and its allies in Asia.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that today’s launch was made from North Korea’s North Pyongan province. The joint chiefs’ statement says the launch was immediately reported to South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

It wasn’t immediately clear if this was a routine firing of a short-range missile or an attempt to perfect North Korea’s longer range missiles.

Trump tweeted: “North Korea has just launched another missile. Does this guy have anything better to do with his life? Hard to believe that South Korea.....” A second tweet continued: “....and Japan will put up with this much longer. Perhaps China will put a heavy move on North Korea and end this nonsense once and for all!”

North Korea’s ongoing missile tests have dramatically raised tensions in the region, with Trump diverting aircraft carrier groups in a show of force, and calling on the People’s Republic of China — the rogue Stalinist dictatorship’s main economic partner — to put pressure on the so-called hermit kingdom.

While many of the missile tests have been unsuccessful, North Korea insists it already has the ability to target the mainland United States — a claim viewed with skepticism though the pariah state is believed to be actively working toward that goal.

The North is ruled by the ruthless Kim Jong Un, the son and grandson of the men who have ruled the communist nation with iron fists since the late 1940s, and observers believe he has to make shows of force to maintain his grip on power.

North Korea possesses nuclear weapons and fears are that if it perfects long-range ballistic missiles it could threaten Japan as well as South Korea.

So far the North has used its nuclear program, dating back to the 1990s, to gain economic aid from the West while agreeing to halt its efforts — steps critics say amount to a cynical shakedown that Trump has promised to end.

AP FILE PHOTOS STUBBORN: Kim Jong Un’s North Korean government conducted another missile test today. Reports could not confirm if it was a solid-fuel ‘Pukguksong-2’ missile such as the one seen below launched in May.