U.S. keeps DPRK off list of countries sponsoring terrorism

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama informed the Congress Wednesday that his administration has decided to keep the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) off the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Obama made the announcement in a letter addressed to leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

He also sent Congress a classified report which includes information on the administration's examination of the conduct of the DPRK from June 26, 2008, through November 16, 2009.

He said the administration "concludes that the DPRK does not meet the statutory criteria to again be designated as a state sponsor of terrorism."

The DPRK was added to the U.S. blacklist on January 20, 1988. On October 11, 2008, the Bush administration removed the country from the terrorism blacklist, after Pyongyang agreed to U.S. nuclear inspection demands.

Last June, the Senate passed a non-binding resolution calling Obama to consider putting Pyongyang back to the list.