President Donald Trump
President Donald TrumpReuters

U.S. President Donald Trump would not rule out the use of military force against North Korea in an interview on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Saturday.

Trump downplayed the significance of North Korea's "small missile launch" early Saturday, but when asked by host John Dickerson if he would consider military action in response to another nuclear test, he responded, "I don't know. I mean, we'll see."

North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile believed to be a KN-17 on Saturday (local time). The missile blew up over land in North Korean territory and the test appeared to have failed.

Trump said the launch was a direct snub of China, one of North Korea's only allies.

"North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad!" Trump tweeted after the launch.

On Saturday, speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump said China “is helping us, possibly or probably, with the North Korean situation.”

“I met with the President of China at great length in Florida, and we had long, long talks,” continued Trump. “He's a good man, and I believe he wants to get that situation taken care of. They have tremendous power, and we'll see what happens.”

Officials in Washington last week that Trump's strategy toward North Korea hinges on China.

North Korea's latest test came hours after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned the United Nationsthat failure to curb North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs could lead to “catastrophic consequences”.