The U.S. State Department named North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism in its “Country Reports” for 2006 published Monday. The Stalinist country is one of five alleged state sponsors of terrorism along with Cuba, Iran, Syria and Sudan. Under a Feb.13 six-nation agreement, the U.S. examined if it should eliminate North Korea from the list, but it seems to feel Pyongyang has not done enough to fulfill its part of the deal. Japan also apparently urged Washington to keep the North on the list due to the unresolved issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the North Korean regime.

The U.S. administration bans arms sales and economic support to state sponsors of terrorism and puts up resistance when such countries apply for loans from international financial organizations. North Korea was first included in 1988, after the bombing of Korean Air 858 jet in 1987. There were, however, some changes in this year’s report, including a shortening of the section on North Korea’s bizarre abduction policy. There are fewer words on Japanese abductees, but a part on Japanese Red Army members' remaining in North Korea after a jet hijacking in 1970 is kept intact.

U.S. officials on Thursday said they will not separate the abduction problem from selection of state sponsors of terrorism. The State Department issues the Country Reports on terrorism at the end of April every year for the previous year.

(englishnews@chosun.com )