US President Donald Trump designated North Korea a state sponsor of terrorism on 20 November, allowing the United States to impose additional sanctions and penalties against Pyongyang as it continues to pursue nuclear weapons programs.
The Republican president, who has traded personal barbs and insults with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said the Treasury Department will announce the additional sanctions against North Korea on 21 November.
The designation came a week after Trump returned from a 12-day, five nation trip to Asia in which the US President made containing North Korea's nuclear ambitions a centerpiece of his discussions with world leaders.
Today, the United States is designating North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. Should have happened a long time ago.Trump told reporters at the White House
North Korea is pursuing nuclear weapons and missile programmes in defiance of UN Security Council sanctions and has made no secret of its plans to develop a missile capable of hitting the US mainland. It has fired two missiles over Japan.
South Korea's spy agency said that North Korea may conduct additional missile tests this year to polish up its long-range missile technology and ramp up the threat against the United States.
Some experts, and US officials speaking privately, have argued that North Korea does not meet the criteria for the designation, which requires evidence that a state has "repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism."
Experts also say that the move will be largely symbolic, as North Korea is already heavily sanctioned by the United States.
South Korea, Japan Welcome US Decision
South Korea's foreign ministry said the United States' decision to put North Korea back on a list of state sponsors of terrorism is expected to contribute to the peaceful denuclearisation of the North.
The announcement will not change the joint stance of South Korea and the United States in trying to bring North Korea to dialogue, the ministry said in a text message to reporters.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe too welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's move to put North Korea back on a list of state sponsors of terrorism, saying it would ramp up pressure on Pyongyang, Kyodo News reported.
"I welcome and support (the designation) as it raises the pressure on North Korea," Abe told reporters, according to Kyodo.
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