President Donald Trump declared this week that North Korea is a state sponsor of terrorism.
According to the Christian Post, the classification means the U.S. may now impose more sanctions on the country, which are also expected to come this week.
Iran, Sudan and Syria are also designated state sponsors of terrorism.
Trump’s announcement came just after his trip to Asia.
"In addition to threatening the world by nuclear devastation, North Korea has repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism, including assassinations on foreign soil," Trump told reporters at the White House.
"This designation will impose further sanctions and penalties on North Korea and related persons and supports our maximum pressure campaign to isolate the murderous regime."
"It should have happened a long time ago," Trump said.
Despite a prohibition from the U.N. Security Council, North Korea is working on a nuclear weapons and missiles program. The country has already fired two missiles over Japan.
A spy agency from South Korea also warned that more missile tests might continue.
Some experts, however, are worried the new designation for North Korea may mean Kim Jong Un will further strain relations between America and North Korea.
Earlier this year, plans for discussions between former U.S. officials and North Korea were cancelled after the State Department denied a visa for a top envoy from the foreign country.
Officials said they denied the visa because of the murder of Kim’s half brother.
In 1987, Pyongyang North Korea was placed on the terrorism sponsor list following the bombing of a Korean Air flight. In 2008, President George W. Bush lifted the designation in exchange for denuclearization discussions.
Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/alexkuehni
Publication date: November 21, 2017
