North Korean media praises ‘wise politician’ Donald Trump

North Korea has offered up high praise for US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, in the form of a state-run newspaper editorial calling him a “wise politician”.

The editorial is understood to have been written by Chinese-North Korean scholar Han Yong-mook.

“Trump defeated all rivals in the Republican primaries in the US,” it reads.

It also urges US voters not to vote for “that dull Hillary…but Trump, who spoke of holding direct conversation with North Korea”.

The editorial follows Donald Trump criticising the "sleazy" US media for not praising his generosity towards veterans. He then promised more attacks on the media if he were elected.

READ MORE: Donald Trump unloads on 'sleazy' US press

It also follows the United Nations urging North Korea to cease provocative actions after its latest attempted missile launch.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the resolutions barring Pyongyang from developing missile technology and sanctions "should be fully applied," UN spokesman Stephan Dujarric said.

North Korea "should cease provocative actions," he added.

South Korea's defense ministry said Pyongyang had failed to launch a missile yesterday, in the latest in a series of attempts.

In April, North Korea failed three times to test-fire a Musudan missile, which has an estimated range of 2500 to 4000 kilometres.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted official sources as saying yesterday's missile may have exploded on its mobile launcher.