Delisting Korea from terror list conditional: US

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Nuclear-armed North Korea cannot be removed from a list of state sponsors of terrorism unless it agrees to a comprehensive protocol verifying its atomic program, US officials say.

There appeared to be a perception that Pyongyang would be automatically delisted on August 11 after President George W. Bush announced on June 26 that he had notified Congress of his intent to de-list North Korea in 45 days.

“The president made very clear that he would use this 45-day period to assess the DPRK’s (North Korea’s) cooperation, including on reaching agreement on a verification protocol, and respond accordingly,” top US nuclear envoy Christopher Hill told a congressional hearing Thursday.