The U.S. State Department says it will continue to keep a close eye on North Korea regarding any activities that could merit the North being redesignated as a sponsor of terrorism.

The department’s statement came shortly after U.S. President Barack Obama notified Congress that North Korea will remain off the U.S. list of terrorist states.

Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters that after careful review, Washington has found that North Korea does not meet the statutory criteria to again be designated as a state sponsor of terrorism.

However, Crowley added that Washington will continue to carefully evaluate the situation going forward, making clear that the U.S. will continue to study the possibility of relisting the North.

The U.S. removed North Korea from the terrorism sponsor list in October 2008 in a diplomatic effort to try to spur the North to denuclearize.