North Korea taken off U.S. terror list

Monique Jones/Editor-in-Chief

North Korea was removed from the terrorism blacklist Saturday, said State Department spokesman Steve McCormack.

According to CNN, McCormack said that the U.S. and North Korea reached an agreement on many measures concerning North Korea’s nuclear program. Some of these agreements include participation by all party members in the Six Party Talks (which also include South Korea Japan, China and Russia), access to all of North Korea’s nuclear facilities, what procedures would be used in the verfication process and the role of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency. 

“Based upon the cooperation agreement North Korea has recently provided … the secretary of state this morning rescinded the designation of the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] as a state sponsor of terrorism, and that was effective as of her signature,” said McCormack.

Many Republicans are angry and frustrated by President Bush’s decision to take North Korea off of the terrorism list.

“While I am not surprised by today’s decision, I am profoundly disappointed. Given the regime’s decision to restart its plutonium reactor at Yongbyon and actions barring access to the site by inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is clear that North Korea has no intention of meeting its commitment to end its nuclear program,” said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain also issued a statement concerning North Korea. “I have previously said that I would not support the easing of sanctions [against] North Korea unless the United States is able to fully verify the nuclear declaration Pyongyang submitted on June 26,” said McCain.

However, Sen. Barack Obama, also running for President, said that the move to take North Korea off of the list is a “modest step forward.”

“President Bush’s decision to remove North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism is an appropriate response, as long as there is a clear understanding that if North Korea fails to follow through there will be immediate consequences,” said Obama. “If North Korea refuses to permit robust verification, we should lead all members of the Six-Party Talks in suspending energy assistance, re-imposing sanctions that have recently been waived, and considering new restrictions.”