U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said the U.S. still hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the North Korean nuclear crisis despite the designation of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. 
 
[Sound bite: U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson]
"No, we still hope for diplomacy and this is, the timing of this is just one of us concluding the process."
"Again, this is all part of just continuing to turn this pressure up and we continue to turn the pressure up on North Korea by getting other countries to join and take actions on their own."
 
In a briefing at the White House on Monday following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement on the designation, Tillerson said the measure is "very symbolic" and the "practical effects may be limited." 
 
Nevertheless, he said the designation may "dissuade some third parties from undertaking certain activities with North Korea as it does impose prohibition on a number of other activities that might not be covered by existing sanctions." 
 
He said the message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is that pressure against the North will get worse unless he gets ready to come and talk.

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