CRS Says Putting North Korea on Terrorism List Would Negatively Affect US Initiatives
Can someone please explain to me what diplomatic initiatives with North Korea the US government is pursuing currently that would make this a concern?
Putting North Korea back on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism would complicate not only future diplomatic initiatives between Washington and Pyongyang, but also Seoul’s efforts to improve relations with Pyongyang, according to a U.S. congressional report.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, which was dated Jan. 21, also said that redesignating the North as a terrorism sponsor is unlikely to inflict significant economic punishment on North Korea, particularly in the short term.
Redesignation “could have a significant impact on international diplomacy with North Korea,” it said, adding that the regime could take redesignation as a threat to its two track policy of nuclear development and economic development, with the latter goal partially dependent upon influxes of foreign investment.
Calls have risen for re-listing North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism since the FBI determined the North was responsible for the cyber-attack on Sony Pictures. U.S. President Barack Obama also said the administration would review such a possibility.
The CRS report said the U.S. has more to lose than gain from redesignation.
“Placing North Korea back on the list could forestall future diplomatic initiatives between Washington and Pyongyang, particularly if North Korean leaders, as well as Chinese leaders, interpret it as a sign that the United States is not interested in dialogue,” it said. [Yonhap]
You can read more at the link, but the only initiative I can think of is if appeasement is the strategy the US wants to pursue?
