Reasons why four countries are considered by the US as 'terrorist sponsors'

North Korea has just been put back on the US list of "state sponsors of terrorism", which will subject it to Washington's financial sanctions, arms trade transactions and embargoes.

According to AP, this is a very tough action by the Trump administration. Previously, this list only included 3 countries: Sudan, Iran and Syria. Why was North Korea put back on the "blacklist" by Mr. Trump? And how does North Korea compare to the other three countries?

AP gives specific reasons for each country:

Chosen

North Korean soldiers on armored vehicles participate in a parade on April 15, 2017. (Photo: Reuters)

Pyongyang was blacklisted by Washington in 1988, but was removed in 2008 as the US wanted to facilitate nuclear disarmament talks.

This time, North Korea is accused of being involved in the assassination of a citizen believed to be Kim Jong Nam, the older brother of Kim Jong Un, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia. In addition, the US accuses North Korea of ​​being behind cyber attacks that could be classified as terrorism.

Syria

President Bashar al-Assad waves to the crowd. (Photo: Reuters)

Syria has been on the list since 1979. The US accuses the Syrian government of supporting various terrorist groups that destabilize the region.

Washington believes that President Bashar Assad's government provides weapons and political support to Hezbollah, an organization based in Lebanon, and helps Iran arm the group.

The US is targeting Syria because of concerns about weapons of mass destruction, according to the US State Department.

Iran

Iranian Revolutionary Guards chant slogans during Friday prayers in Tehran. (Photo: Reuters)

Iran appeared on the list in 1984. A US State Department report in July named Iran the number one state sponsor of terrorism, arguing that the Islamic Republic supported Shiite rebels in Iraq...

In addition, the issue of weapons of mass destruction was raised by the US State Department with Iran because of the risk from its nuclear program.

Sudan

Sudanese President Omar Hasan al-Bashir speaks in North Khartoum. (Photo: Reuters)

The East African nation, which sheltered Osama bin Laden for years in the 1990s, was added to the list in 1993. But in addition to its terrorist ties and a president wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, Sudan has been accused by the US State Department of trampling on the rule of law and allowing its security forces to commit crimes without a license.

According to VNN