Trump Tweets Embarrassing Response to Powerful North Korea Nuclear Test, Gets Condemned and Mocked

‘I Guess Donald Trump Is Now Preparing to Launch a Tweet’

Just before midnight on Saturday North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test to date, which measured a strong 5.6 to 6.3 magnitude. It was reportedly almost ten times as powerful as last year’s test. And it is more evidence Kim Jong-un is intent on displaying as much strength as he can in the face of threats by U.S. President Donald Trump. 

In response, nations in the region expressed condemnation in the strongest terms possible.

China’s foreign ministry said it “strongly condemns” the North Korean nuclear test. South Korea’s President Moon called for the “strongest punishment” of North Korea. Japan’s foreign minister said it would call for an emergency session of the UN Security Council. Russia said it expressed its “strongest condemnation” of the North Korean nuclear test. The UN atomic watchdog called it “extremely regrettable.”

The White House just a few hours after the test told Fox News it would respond at some point later on Sunday. That statement likely came from Chief of Staff John Kelly.

That, of course, is not what happened.

Here’s what did:

While foreign nations were responding as they should, Trump posted embarrassing tweets, in contradiction to what the White House said would happen. Not only did he attack North Korea, but South Korea and China as well.

This was the exact wrong course of action.

In a stunning move, the former Prime Minister of Sweden, who is now the Co-Chair European Council on Foreign Relations, predicted what Trump would do, and posted an amusing tweet mocking the U.S. president:

There was more mockery of Trump’s response, by foreign policy and nuclear experts, who also expressed condemnation of tRump’s actions.

Here’s U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT):

Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, and Iraq, and former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Christopher Hill:

A nuclear and global security expert tweeted the European Union’s statement on the nuclear test to Trump, with harsh words:

Editor in Chief, The Atlantic:

Professor of international relations, journalist, and CEO of international advisory firm:

National Security Advisor to  Vice President Joe Biden and a Georgetown professor:

Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow:

Nuclear weapons expert, former special assistant to President Barack Obama, former Senior Director for Arms Control and Nonproliferation at the National Security Council:

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Image by Narih Lee via Flickr and a CC license