North Korea to Remain on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List
08/26/08 10:58 PM Filed in: North
Korea | State
On August 25, 2008, after the U.S.
refused to remove North Korea from the State Sponsors of Terrorism
List,
North Korea announced it has stopped disabling its nuclear reactor
complex and will consider rebuilding.
The statement comes two months after North Korea released the report of its plutonium programs and detonated the reactor’s cooling tower, reports the Washington Post. These actions prompted statements by the Bush administration that the U.S. will remove North Korea from the State Terrorism List and will lift some trade sanctions.
However, on August 11, 2008, the United States refused to remove North Korea from the list, citing slow progress and refusal to permit outside experts to verify the scope of the nuclear program.
The work to disable the Yongbyon nuclear reactor complex stopped on August 14, 2008, according to a statement issued by North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The official Korean Central News Agency added that the country will consider rebuilding the nuclear plant to its original state. U.S. officials note, however, that the plant has been substantially dismantled under the supervision of outside nuclear technicians and it would take at least a year to restore it to its operation.
North Korea entered into agreement with the U.S. in 2007 to abandon its nuclear program. North Korea promised to start by disabling the Yongbyon plant and detailing the scope of its nuclear program. In return, the U.S. promised aid and removal from the terrorism list. Removal from the list would mean lifting of the associated sanctions.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has published Q &A for exporters on the Rescission of North Korea from the State Sponsor of Terrorism List, which can be found here. The Q&A also details general export to North Korea licensing requirements.
The statement comes two months after North Korea released the report of its plutonium programs and detonated the reactor’s cooling tower, reports the Washington Post. These actions prompted statements by the Bush administration that the U.S. will remove North Korea from the State Terrorism List and will lift some trade sanctions.
However, on August 11, 2008, the United States refused to remove North Korea from the list, citing slow progress and refusal to permit outside experts to verify the scope of the nuclear program.
The work to disable the Yongbyon nuclear reactor complex stopped on August 14, 2008, according to a statement issued by North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The official Korean Central News Agency added that the country will consider rebuilding the nuclear plant to its original state. U.S. officials note, however, that the plant has been substantially dismantled under the supervision of outside nuclear technicians and it would take at least a year to restore it to its operation.
North Korea entered into agreement with the U.S. in 2007 to abandon its nuclear program. North Korea promised to start by disabling the Yongbyon plant and detailing the scope of its nuclear program. In return, the U.S. promised aid and removal from the terrorism list. Removal from the list would mean lifting of the associated sanctions.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has published Q &A for exporters on the Rescission of North Korea from the State Sponsor of Terrorism List, which can be found here. The Q&A also details general export to North Korea licensing requirements.