Ted Cruz--Add North Korea to list of state sponsors of terrorism

Susan Wright:
...

In a Monday op-ed with the New York Times, Texas Senator Ted Cruz makes a compelling case for relisting the rogue nation of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.

The senator begins his piece by pointing out a crucial October 31 deadline for the U.S. State Department.

The Iran-Russia-North Korea sanctions bill that was introduced in August contains legislation from Senator Cruz that would require the Secretary of State to make a decision, regarding the relisting of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, within 90 days.

Senator Cruz reels off a disturbing list of evidence to support the designation.

Look at the accusations against Pyongyang: the unspeakable treatment of Otto Warmbier; the assassination of a member of the Kim family with chemical weapons on foreign soil; collusion with Iran to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles; cyberattacks on American film companies; support for Syria’s chemical weapons program; arms sales to Hezbollah and Hamas; and attempts to assassinate dissidents in exile. Given this, the decision should be easy. In fact, Americans could be forgiven for wondering why North Korea is not already designated as a sponsor of terrorism.

It’s a valid question.

Why are they not listed as state sponsors of terrorism?
...
Cruz goes on to discuss how Iran got off the list and then abrogated the reasons for removing it.  Probably the biggest impediment to relisting North Korea is the bureaucracy at the US State Department.  I get the feeling they are searching for a new deal for Pyongyang to not live up to.  The fact is that the North Koreans' word is not good.

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