The North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently sharpened its stance against the United States' re-designation of North Korea as a 'State Sponsor of Terrorism Non-Cooperation,' stating that "there is absolutely no area in which cooperation can be discussed."
On the 18th, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Kwon Jeong-geun, Director of the U.S. Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement that "it is necessary to make clear that the U.S., completely unaware of the current North Korea-U.S. confrontation situation and lacking a sense of reality, talks about some kind of 'cooperation.'" Director Kwon disparaged the U.S.'s so-called 'counterterrorism efforts' as "a concealed infringement of sovereignty aimed at interfering in other countries' internal affairs and justifying regime overthrow and acts of aggression," emphasizing that "there is no willingness or interest whatsoever to cooperate with the U.S.'s 'counterterrorism efforts.'"
He further criticized the U.S.'s 'counterterrorism' efforts, saying that "the vicious cycle of retaliation is increasing," and pointed out that "instead of wasting futile energy on foolish acts, it would be better to focus on restraining the reckless state terrorism committed by its junior allies in the Middle East."
The United States publishes the list of 'States Not Cooperating with Counterterrorism' annually in May under the Arms Export Control Act and Executive Order 13637. On the 15th, the U.S. Department of State re-designated four countries, including North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Venezuela, as States Not Cooperating with Counterterrorism. Cuba, which had been listed until last year, was excluded. North Korea has been listed for 28 consecutive years since its first inclusion in 1997.
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