Trump says North Korea's Kim Jong-un is a 'pretty smart cookie'

• Video report by ITV News Correspondent Lucy Watson

Donald Trump has called North Korean leader Kim Jong-un a "pretty smart cookie".

In an interview with CBS News programme Face the Nation, the US President said Mr Kim was able to assume power at the age of just 27.

"A lot of people, I'm sure, tried to take that power away, whether it was his uncle or anybody else. And he was able to do it. So obviously, he's a pretty smart cookie."

But as tensions fuel between the US and North Korea over its nuclear weapons programme, Mr Trump said he "no idea" if Mr Kim was sane.

• Trump says US is ready to tackle North Korea without China

Mr Trump's comments came after North Korea carried out a failed test-launch of what US officials said was a short-range ballistic missile, which is banned under United Nations sanctions.

Fears are growing in the White House that North Korea is close to developing nuclear warheads capable of hitting the US mainland.

During the interview, Mr Trump said would "not be happy" if Kim Jung-un carried out a nuclear test.

Asked if that meant military action, the US president replied: "I don't know, I mean, we'll see".