Following North Korea's hydrogen bomb test on Sept. 3, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut off trade with "any country doing business with North Korea" — raising concern for the regime's fourth largest exporting country, Taiwan.
Last Sunday, North Korea claimed it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb for its intercontinental ballistic missile. Upon the order of its leader, Kim Jong Un, it was the regime's first nuclear weapon test since Trump was inaugurated in January.
On Sept. 4, Trump responded to the incident via Twitter saying, "The United States is considering, in addition to other options, stopping all trade with any country doing business with North Korea." His remarks were widely interpreted to be a reference to China, which is involved in 90 percent of North Korea's foreign trade.
Accounting for 0.4 percent of North Korea's total exports, Taiwan is the country's fourth largest trading partner after China, India and the Philippines, reports Taiwan News, and Taiwan may risk losing its third largest export partner, the U.S., and US$33.6 billion worth of foreign trade over its dealings with North Korea.
Editor: Olivia Yang
