Trump camp blames Korea nuke test on Clinton's 'catastrophic failure'

Donald TrumpDonald TrumpIran's leader vows 'revenge,' posting an image resembling Trump Former Sanders spokesperson: Biden 'backing away' from 'populist offerings' Justice Dept. to probe sudden departure of US attorney in Atlanta after Trump criticism MORE’s presidential campaign is pinning the blame for North Korea’s Friday nuclear test on Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonSamantha Power's Herculean task: Turning a screw with a rubber screwdriver Beau Biden Foundation to deny lobbyist donations, make major donors public Whoopi Goldberg wears 'my vice president' shirt day after inauguration MORE's work as secretary of State.

 

“North Korea's fifth nuclear test, the fourth since Hillary Clinton became Secretary of State, is yet one more example of Hillary Clinton's catastrophic failures as Secretary of State," Trump communications adviser Jason Miller said in a statement.

 

"Clinton promised to work to end North Korea’s nuclear program as Secretary of State, yet the program has only grown in strength and sophistication. Hillary Clinton’s North Korean policy is just one more calamitous diplomatic failure from a failed Secretary of State.”

 

The statement from the GOP nominee's camp pointed to Clinton’s comments about North Korea during her 2009 confirmation hearing.

 

"Our goal is to end the North Korean nuclear program — both the plutonium reprocessing program and the highly enriched uranium program, which there is reason to believe exists, although never quite verified," Clinton, now Trump's Democratic rival, said at the hearing.

 

The U.S. and China have condemned North Korea's latest nuclear test, with U.S. officials calling it a threat to regional security.

 

“The United States does not, and never will, accept North Korea as a nuclear state,” President Obama said Friday.

 

The nuclear test was discovered after reports of a 5.3 magnitude earthquake near its nuclear testing facility.