DPRK removed from "terrorism" blacklist

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Source: CCTV.com | 10-13-2008 08:50

The United States has removed the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

South Korea's chief nuclear envoy Kim Sook speaks at a briefing at the headquarters of the foreign ministry in Seoul October 12, 2008.REUTERS/Park Se-yon/Newsis

Pyongyang is welcoming the move, and says it will resume disabling its nuclear facilities. But the development is getting mixed reviews from South Korea and Japan.

The US decision to remove the DPRK from its terrorism blacklist has received mixed reactions from the parties involved.

The DPRK's state-owned news agency says the foreign ministry welcomes the gesture, and said the country would resume the process of dismantling its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon.

South Korea welcomed both the US move to salvage a failing nuclear deal, and the DPRK's consequent pledge to allow site inspections of its nuclear facilities.

Kim Sook, South Korea Nuclear Envoy, said, "This government welcomes these moves as an opportunity that would lead to the normalization of the six-party talks and the DPRK's eventual abandonment of its nuclear programs."

Japan, on the other hand, expressed dissatisfaction over the US decision. It insists the DPRK should not be removed from the list until the issue of DPRK's abduction of Japanese citizens is properly addressed.

Shoichi Nakagawa, Finance Minister, said, "I don't think the United States properly consulted the Japanese government, its close ally, before making this decision. It's extremely regrettable."

Japan says it will step up efforts to resolve the abduction issue, which has run for decades.

Japanese media have raised questions over whether the government would lose leverage on the abduction issue, now that the DPRK was off the blacklist.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei