President Trump took to Twitter in the wake of North Korea’s sixth and most powerful nuclear test on Sunday, condemning Pyongyang’ actions and outlining some of the options under consideration to rein in the despotic nation.
He tweeted: “North Korea has conducted a major Nuclear Test. Their words and actions continue to be very hostile and dangerous to the United States.
“South Korea is finding, as I have told them, that their talk of appeasement with North Korea will not work, they only understand one thing!
“North Korea is a rogue nation which has become a great threat and embarrassment to China, which is trying to help but with little success.
“I will be meeting General Kelly, General Mattis and other military leaders at the White House to discuss North Korea. Thank you.
“The United States is considering, in addition to other options, stopping all trade with any country doing business with North Korea.”
However, China has responded angrily to the US President’s threats.
Geng Shuang, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, told reporters at a briefing in Beijing on Monday that China regarded as “unacceptable a situation in which on the one hand we work to resolve this issue peacefully but on the other hand our own interests are subject to sanctions and jeopardised.”
Geng said: “This is neither objective nor fair.”
China is North Korea’s closest ally and commercial partner, buying 83 per cent of the country’s exports and selling 85 per cent of the goods imported by Pyongyang.
However, a collapse in the trade relationship between China and the US would have devastating consequences for both countries as well as the international community.