North Korea has warned Washington against re-including it in the State Sponsors of Terrorism blacklist, a move the US is reportedly considering over Pyongyang’s alleged involvement in the assassination of the half-brother of Kim Jong-un in Malaysia.
“The US will keenly realize how dearly it has to pay for its groundless accusations against the dignified DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea],” a statement from a spokesman for the foreign ministry said, as cited by KCNA state news agency.
The spokesman added that “gone are the days never to return when the US could stigmatize at random to oppress those countries incurring its displeasure, while having the world under its control.”
“The US is seeking to label the DPRK a ‘sponsor of terrorism’ though it has nothing in common with it. This cannot be construed otherwise than an expression of inveterate [repugnance] and hostile attitude towards it.”
North Korea was added to State Sponsors of Terrorism list in 1988 over Pyongyang’s involvement in the bombing of a Korean Airlines passenger flight in 1987. The country was later removed from it in 2008.
Earlier in February, reports emerged that US is considering re-including North Korea in the blacklist, allegedly sparked by the recent assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in Malaysia.
The assassination reportedly involved a VX nerve agent, though the official results of the Malaysian investigation have yet to be released. South Korea suspects Pyongyang of being behind the death of Kim Jong-nam.
