President Trump said Friday that North Korea’s recent flurry of missile tests possibly violated UN resolutions but did not break his agreement with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, whom he called a friend.

“Kim Jong Un and North Korea tested 3 short range missiles over the last number of days. These missiles tests are not a violation of our signed Singapore agreement, nor was there discussion of short range missiles when we shook hands,” the president wrote in a series of tweets.

“There may be a United Nations violation, but Chairman Kim does not want to disappoint me with a violation of trust, there is far too much for North Korea to gain — the potential as a Country, under Kim Jong Un’s leadership, is unlimited,” he continued.

“Also, there is far too much to lose. I may be wrong, but I believe that Chariman [sic] Kim has a great and beautiful vision for his country, and only the United States, with me as President, can make that vision come true. He will do the right thing because he is far too smart not to, and he does not want to disappoint his friend, President Trump!” he concluded.

North Korea fired missiles for the third time in eight days on Thursday, a series of launches that analysts said were designed both to improve military capabilities and pressure the US and South Korea as they seek to restart stalled denuclearization talks with Pyongyang.

South Korea’s military said the missiles flew about 137 miles and reached an altitude of about 15 miles at the hypersonic speed of Mach 6.9.

North Korea has been testing missiles despite a June 30 meeting between Trump and Kim at the North Korean border during which the two agreed to revive stalled talks, which have yet to resume.

Trump has played down the dictator’s missile launches since his summit with Kim in Vietnam in February didn’t result in an agreement, saying they were all short-range devices, not the intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear bombs Kim has promised not to test.

The US has about 23,500 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines stationed in South Korea who could be targeted in any armed conflict with the North’s rogue regime.

Trump continued to laud the personal rapport he says he has with Kim, who has been criticized by the State Department for subjecting his people to “egregious violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

The department said in May that about 100,000 people were held in political prison camps.

With Reuters

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