President George W. Bush said Wednesday he is extending American sanctions against Syria because it poses an "unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States." He charged Damascus with backing terrorism and "pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, including the recent revelation of illicit nuclear cooperation with North Korea."

Evidence of the cooperation was revealed in Israel's September bombing of a nuclear facility being built with North Korean help in northern Syria. President Bush first placed sanctions on Syria in 2004 and has extended and widened them following Syria's continuing intervention in Lebanese politics.