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US may remove DPRK from terror list in August
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-27 07:26

WASHINGTON -- The United States said Thursday it may remove the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) from its state sponsors of terrorism in August if the DPRK meets all its obligations under the six-party talks.

"After a period of 45 calendar days and absent the enactment of a joint resolution blocking the proposed rescission, the secretary of state may rescind North Korea's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism on August 11," the US State Department said in a statement.

The DPRK will not be removed from the terror list until a verification system is put in place and verification itself begins, the statement said.

U.S. President George W. Bush said Thursday that the United States will lift the key sanctions on the DPRK under the Trading with the Enemy Act and will notify Congress of his intent to remove the DPRK from the state sponsors of terrorism.

Meanwhile, Bush warned that the DPRK must disclose and dismantle all its nuclear programs in a verifiable way, or face the consequences.

The DPRK handed over its long-awaited nuclear declaration to China earlier Thursday.