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It seems likely that North Korea will finally be struck from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism next month if it gives an accurate and full account of its nuclear programs. According to diplomatic sources in Washington, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and International Monetary Fund will very likely begin discussions on development of and support for North Korea once it is struck from the terrorism list in tandem with progress in its denuclearization.
In "Country Reports on Terrorism 2007" released on Wednesday, the U.S. expressly states it has the intention of removing North Korea from the list in accordance with its domestic laws and regulations if the North takes actions toward denuclearization. If it is removed from the list, North Korea will be no longer subject to the U.S. Export Administration Act, Foreign Assistance Act, International Financial Institutions Act, International Traffic in Arms Regulation, and Trading with the Enemy Act.
The possibility of international financial institutions developing and supporting North Korea is the biggest benefit. U.S. domestic laws oblige American members of the board of directors at international financial institutions to oppose any support including loans to countries on the list. The rationale is that aid to terrorism sponsors may be used to fund terrorist attacks on the U.S.
Accordingly, the U.S., which pulls the strings in the big international financial institutions, has so far blocked discussions on support for countries on the list. If North Korea is struck off, it will be treated finally as a member of the international community and will become entitled to aid from international financial institutions.
The North will then also be able to import items for dual civilian and military purposes, including high-performance computers and chemical materials for industrial use. If it improves ties with the U.S., it can also get official aid from Washington.
A high-level source in Washington said, "If North Korea gives a full account of its nuclear programs and smoothly carries out the three-stage nuclear dismantlement process, the U.S. administration will ask the international community, including Japan and the EU, as well as international financial institutions, to support the reconstruction of North Korea."
It is entirely up to the government to strike the North off the list, but it has to notify Congress of its decision 45 days before it actually does so, as a gesture of respect. The South Korean Embassy in Washington speculates that if the North's nuclear declaration proceeds smoothly, it may be possible for U.S. President George W. Bush to notify Congress of his decision this month.
Bush will then have to show that North Korea has not been involved in international terrorist activities for the last six months and has promised not to get involved in such activities in the future. The North was put on the list on Jan. 20, 1988 following its bombing of a Korean Air jet in 1987.
Some U.S. congressmen argue that North Korea's nuclear cooperation with Syria -- which was carried out after the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement from the six-party nuclear talks -- was an "act of support for terrorism." Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a ranking Republican on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and others on Wednesday submitted a bill affixing a proviso to the Arms Export Control Act in preparation to strike North Korea from the terrorism list.
These sponsors of the bill want to make sure that before striking North Korea from the list, the White House should ˇ°certify" that North Korea has given a full and accurate account of all nuclear programs and a verification device is operating, and is ˇ®no longer engaged in the transfer of technology related to the acquisition or development of nuclear weapons, particularly to Iran, Syria or any other state sponsor of terrorism."
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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