Donald Trump has downplayed North Korea’s recent missile tests in an apparent contradiction to his own security adviser.
Tweeting shortly after he arrived in Japan on Sunday, the US President called the missiles “small weapons.”
US National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Saturday the tests violated UN resolutions on North Korea.
Mr Trump’s remarks came as he began a four day state visit to Japan, teeing off a round of golf with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
"North Korea fired off some small weapons, which disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me," Mr Trump tweeted on Sunday morning.
Mr Trump’s comments put him at odds with Mr Bolton as well as his host nation.
Mr Bolton had earlier told reporters: "In terms of violating U.N. Security Council resolutions, there is no doubt about that,” referring to the May 4 and 9 tests, which were the first since late 2017.
Mr Abe last week last week called the tests “extremely regrettable.”
Mr Trump and other administration officials have sought to downplay the significance of the tests, insisting they do not violate an agreement the President reached with Mr Kim for a moratorium on launches.
Mr Trump said in his tweet he had "confidence that Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me," while at the same time embracing Mr Kim's recent attacks on one of his democratic rivals, former Vice President Joe Biden.
He said he "smiled" when Kim "called Swampman Joe Biden a low IQ individual, & worse."
"Perhaps that's sending me a signal?"
North Korea this week labelled Mr Biden a "fool of low IQ" and an "imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being" after the US presidential hopeful accused Mr Trump of cozying up to "dictators and tyrants" like Mr Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin during his campaign launch speech.
