Certification of Rescission of North Korea's Designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism

President Bush certified to Congress that North Korea had not supported international terrorism for the preceding 6 months and had provided assurances against future support, thereby rescinding its 1988 designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. The Secretary of State was directed to report this certification and its justification to Congress and arrange Federal Register publication.

Federal Register Open PDF 73 FR 37351

Impact dates

Jun 26, 2008
Report certification and justification memorandum to Congress; arrange Federal Register publication

Key directives

Certify that North Korea has not supported international terrorism in preceding 6-month period
Certify that North Korea has provided assurances against future terrorism support
Rescind January 20, 1988 determination designating North Korea as State Sponsor of Terrorism
Report certification and attached justification memorandum to Congress
Arrange publication of certification in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · State Department

Timeline

Immediate

Certification takes effect upon signing; rescission of State Sponsor of Terrorism designation
Restrictions under Export Administration Act, Foreign Assistance Act, and Arms Export Control Act lifted

Near term (90d)

Secretary of State reports certification and justification memorandum to Congress
Federal Register publication arranged

Long term

End of broad terrorism-based sanctions on North Korea
Potential normalization of certain trade and diplomatic relations

Risks & tensions

Verification risk: 6-month 'clean' period difficult to independently verify for closed regime
Assurance non-binding: Future terrorism support assurances lack enforcement mechanism
Congressional notification tension: Legislative branch oversight of executive foreign policy certification
Reversibility risk: Designation could be reinstated if North Korea resumes support