Should the State Dept. Consider Putting North Korea Back On the List of State Sponsors of Terrorism? (H.R. 479)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is H.R. 479?
(Updated September 1, 2019)
This bill would start the process of re-designating North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism after the country had been removed from the list in 2008 because of promises it made to stop its nuclear weapons program. It notes that North Korea has provided weapons to terror groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, and has harbored members of the Japanese Red Army following attacks they’ve carried out. The bill would call on the Secretary of State to provide Congress with a report that evaluates whether North Korea should be added to the list of state sponsors of terrorism within 90 days of its enactment.
Currently, the State Department lists three countries as state sponsors of terrorism, all of which have been on the list for more than two decades: Iran (1984), Sudan (1993), and Syria (1979). The sanctions imposed as a result of this designation fall into four major categories:
Restrictions on U.S. foreign aid to the country;
A ban on defense exports and sales;
Controls placed on the export of items that can be used for civilian or military purposes;
Miscellaneous financial and other restrictions.
Argument in favor
North Korea has pushed ahead with its nuclear weapons program, behaves in a belligerent manner towards its neighbors, and has supported terror groups like Hezbollah. The rogue state should be put back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism and face related sanctions.
Argument opposed
North Korea may be reckless in pursuing a nuclear weapons program and its interactions with neighboring countries, but that doesn’t mean they should be considered a state sponsor of terror. The country was removed from the list as a reward for vowing to stop its nuclear program.
Impact
The government of North Korea; and the State Department.
Cost of H.R. 479
A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.
Additional Info
In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) introduced this bill to punish North Korea for its belligerent behavior towards South Korea and Japan, in addition to its aiding terror groups, by starting the process of adding the country back onto the list of state sponsors of terrorism. In the context of North Korea’s ongoing ballistic missile tests, Poe said inaction could embolden the rogue state into taking even more aggressive actions against its neighbors and the U.S.:
“North Korea has even bigger plans. Kim Jong-un reportedly plans to develop submarines from which to launch the missiles, which could threaten the United States. The last administration pursued an ignorant strategy called strategic patience. That policy clearly failed. North Korea’s program is now stronger than ever. Kim Jong-un’s threats continue to grow bolder and bolder with no repercussions.
Once upon a time, the United States had North Korea on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. It is time to put little Kim back on that list because he is a world terrorist and a threat to world peace, and he has earned that distinction.”
This legislation has the support of six cosponsors in the House, including five Republicans and one Democrat.
Media:
Summary by Eric Revell
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