Washington ( CNN ) -- The United States will not return North Korea to its list of state sponsors of terrorism despite its alleged role in the sinking of a South Korea naval ship in contested waters off the peninsula 's coast . `` In our view , it was a provocative action but one taken by the military or the state against the military of another state , '' U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley said Monday in his explanation of why the sinking did n't constitute an act of international terrorism . When asked if the sinking was an `` act of war , '' Crowley called it a `` violation of the existing armistice between North and South , '' adding the United States continuously evaluates information that may affect the status of nations on the terror list . Crowley 's remarks came ahead of Tuesday 's scheduled meetings between Wi Sung-lac , South Korea 's representative to six-party nuclear talks with North Korea , and State Department officials . North Korea last year cut off the talks involving the United States , China , South Korea , Japan and Russia over international criticism of its nuclear and missile tests . Why are the two Koreas so hostile ? North Korea has vehemently denied charges it fired a torpedo that sank the navy ship Cheonan and has accused the United States of `` persistently antagonizing '' it . In a final statement issued Saturday , Group of Eight leaders condemned North Korea 's government for its alleged role in the March 26 sinking of the Cheonan , which killed 46 sailors , and expressed grave concerns over its nuclear ambitions . The G8 nations include United States , Canada , France , Germany , Britain , Italy , Japan and Russia . Two weeks ago , U.N. Security Council President Claude Heller said the U.N. body was `` gravely concerned '' about tensions between the Koreas after the ship sinking . Friday marked the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War , which ended in 1953 with an armistice but no peace treaty .
North Korea wo n't make terror list for alleged sinking of South Korean naval ship . South Korean nuclear envoy to be in Washington Tuesday . G8 leaders expressed concerns over North Korea 's nuclear ambitions .