Terror

Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
provided support for acts of international terrorism. The United
States will follow the provisions of the law as the facts warrant, and
if information exists which indicates that North Korea has repeatedly
provided support for acts of terrorism, the Department will take
immediate action. 17
None of the authorities Crowley cited, however, sets forth more detailed criteria for listing a
government. Section 6(j) authorizes export controls for countries that the Secretary of State
lists, but provides no detailed standard or procedural guidance for listing a government. Section
620A of the Foreign Assistance Act limits foreign assistance to SSOT governments, but does not
define “international terrorism” or establish more specific criteria for listing. 18 The third statute
Crowley cited, at 22 U.S.C. § 278, turns out to be an authorization to appropriate $2 million to
build a laboratory in Panama for the study of tropical diseases. 19 Crowley may have intended to
cite 22 U.S.C. § 2780, the code section corresponding to Section 40 of the Arms Export Control
Act, which restricts arms exports to states that sponsor terrorism. 20
None of these statutes defines “international terrorism,” or sets specific criteria for listing a state
as a sponsor. Instead, they give the Secretary of State complete discretion to add a government
to the SSOT list if he finds that the government has “repeatedly provide[d] support for acts of
international terrorism.” 21
C. Definitions of “International Terrorism” and “Terrorist Activity”
No single statute defines “international terrorism” conclusively for purposes of the SSOT list.
To determine whether an act could be considered “international terrorism,” one may compare
17 U.S. Department of State, “North Korea: State Sponsor of Terrorism? (Taken Question),” last modified 28 June
2010, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/06/143720.htm.
18 Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, Pub. L. No. 87-195, § 620A added by Pub. L. No. 94-329, § 303, 90 Stat. 753
(as amended).
19 Foreign Assistance Act of 1974, Pub. L. No. 93-559, § 47, 88 Stat. 1816 (amending an Act of May 7, 1928, ch.
505, § 1, 45 Stat. 491).
20 International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976, Pub. L. No. 94-329, § 40 added by Pub.
L. No. 99-399, § 509(a), 100 Stat. 874 (as amended).
21 U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Counterterrorism, “State Sponsors of Terrorism,” http://www.state.gov/j/
ct/list/c14151.htm.
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