US President, Donald Trump on Monday officially designated North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, returning the rogue nation to a list from which it had been removed during the George W. Bush administration.
North Korea had been removed from the list under the George W. Bush administration in an attempt to salvage negotiations for a nuclear deal.
The president made the announcement at the White House on Monday morning. North Korea will join Sudan, Syria and Iran as countries that the State Department identifies as ones that have “repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism.”
Administration officials had hinted in recent weeks that Trump was considering adding North Korea back to the list in light of that country’s nuclear ambitions and its cyberattacks aimed at the United States and other countries.
The president did not make the announcement during his recently completed 12-day trip to South Korea and other Asian nations. But Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, had said Friday that reporters should expect an announcement early this week.
Speaking at the beginning of a cabinet meeting, Trump accused the North Korean government of supporting “acts of international terrorism,” including assassinations on foreign soil.
“Today the United States is designating North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. Should have happened a long time ago,” Trump said. He said North Korea “must end its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile development.”
Trump said that the Treasury Department on Tuesday will announce new, tougher sanctions on North Korea to accompany the designation.
“It will be the highest level of sanctions,” Trump said.
