Trump puts North Korea back on US’ terrorism blacklist

Seeking to put “maximum pressure” on North Korea, President Trump has put the country back on the US’ state-supporters of terrorism blacklist. 

By: AP

President Donald Trump announced Monday the US is putting North Korea’s “murderous regime” on America’s terrorism blacklist.

Trump said that the designation as a state sponsor of terror is long overdue, and promised a new wave of sanctions as part of a “maximum pressure campaign” over North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons.

North Korea will join Iran, Sudan and Syria on the blacklist. The North had been designated for two decades until 2008, when it was removed in a bid to salvage international talks aimed at halting its nuclear efforts. The talks collapsed soon after.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said designating North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism is part of a push to continue “to turn the pressure up.”

Tillerson addressed reporters at the White House on Monday after Trump announced that the US is putting North Korea on America’s terrorism blacklist.

Tillerson said that the message to leader Kim Jong Un is that “this is only going to get worse until you’re ready to come and talk.”

Tillerson noted that it had been about two months since the country tested a missile. “We’re hopeful this period will continue,” he said.

Tillerson conceded that the designation is a “very symbolic move” with limited practical effects.