NORTH KOREA BLACKLISTED

President Donald Trump announces that the U.S. is putting North Korea’s “murderous regime” on America’s terrorism blacklist. New sanctions are expected.

WASHINGTON» President Donald Trump announced Monday the U.S. is putting North Korea’s “murderous regime” on America’s terrorism blacklist, despite questions about Pyongyang’s support for international attacks beyond the assassination of its leader’s half brother in February.

Trump said the designation as a state sponsor of terror was long overdue, and he promised a new wave of sanctions as part of a “maximum pressure campaign” over North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons that could soon pose a direct threat to the U.S. mainland.

North Korea will join Iran, Sudan and Syria on the blacklist. The North had been designated for two decades until 2008, when it was removed in a bid to salvage international talks aimed at halting its nuclear efforts.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the designation was a “very symbolic move” with limited practical effects, although it could close a “few loopholes” in a tough sanctions regime. He said anecdotal evidence and intelligence suggests the North is suffering fuel shortages, with queues at gas stations, and its revenues are down.

Still, Tillerson also acknowledged a twomonth pause in the North’s rapid tempo of nuclear and missile tests and said there was still hope for diplomacy.