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Timeline: North Korea's Nuclear and Missile Programs

2010

  • 2016.11.30
    • UN Security Council adopts Resolution 2321 (places cap on North Korean coal trade)
  • 2016.10.17
    • UN Security Council condemns North Korea’s Musudan launch in amedia statement
  • 2016.10.15
    • North Korea fires a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile from Banghyeon Airfield in Kusong, North Pyongan Province. It ends in failure.
  • 2016.09.28
    • The South Korean Defense Ministry announces an alternative site to the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, saying it will be installed in a golf course in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang Province.
  • 2016.09.09
    • The UN Security Council adopts a press statement condemning North Korea's fifth nuclear test and pledging to work immediately on drafting a new resolution of additional sanctions on the North.
    • North Korea claims it has succeeded in standardizing its nuclear warhead.
    • North Korea conducts its fifth nuclear test. The explosive yield of the test is estimated at ten kilotons, the largest by North Korea.
  • 2016.09.06
    • The UN Security Council adopts a press statement condemning North Korea for its ballisstic missile launches conducted on September fifth of 2016.
  • 2016.09.05
    • North Korea fires three ballistic missiles from Hwangju County, North Hwanghae Province. All of the three missiles fly over one-thousand kilometers before dropping some 400 kilometers in the Japanese Air Identification Zone.
  • 2016.08.26
    • The UN Security Council adopts a press statement strongly condemning North Korea's recent submarine-launched ballistic missile tests and ballistic missile launches.
  • 2016.08.24
    • North Korea fies a submarine-launched ballistic missile in waters off Sinpo, South Hamgyong Province. The missile flies around 500 kilometers before dropping 80 kilometers into the Japanese Air Defense Identification Zone.
  • 2016.08.03
    • North Korea fires two Nodong intermediate-range missiles from the central western coastal county of Unryul, South Hwanghae Province toward the East Sea. One of them explodes in midair, but the other flies some one-thousand kilometers before it drops in Japan's exclusive economic zone.
  • 2016.07.19
    • North Korea fires two Nodong intermediate-range ballistic missiles and a Scud missile from Hwangju in North Hamgyong Province, sending two of them as far as 600 kilometers toward the East Sea.
  • 2016.07.13
    • The South Korean Defense Ministry announces the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery will be deployed in an air defense artillery base in Seongju County in North Gyeongsang Province.
  • 2016.07.09
    • North Korea launches a submarine-launched ballistic missile in waters off the country's eastern coastal city of Sinpo. The missile explodes in midair.
  • 2016.07.08
    • South Korea and the U.S. announce a joint decision to deploy the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery in South Korea.
  • 2016.06.29
    • The 13th Supreme People's Assembly in Pyongyang appoints Kim Jong-un as the head of the state affairs commission, marking the completion of his monolithic leadership system.
  • 2016.06.24
    • The UN Security Council adopts a press statement strongly condemning North Korea's test-launch of two Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
  • 2016.06.22
    • One of them explodes in midair after flying 150 kilometers, while the other travels 400 kilometers.
    • North Korea fires two Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missiles from near Wonsan.
  • 2016.05.31
    • North Korea fires a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile from near Wonsan. The missile explodes in midair.
  • 2016.04.28
    • North Korea attempts to fire two Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missiles from Wonsan, but both explode in midair.
  • 2016.04.23
    • North Korea launches a submarine-launched ballistic missile in waters off its northeastern coast. The missile flies around 30 kilometers.
  • 2016.04.15
    • North Korea attempts to fire a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile at its eastern coastal region, but the missile explodes in midair.
  • 2016.04.01
    • North Korea fires three ground-to-air missiles from near Sondok in the North's eastern South Hamgyong Province.
  • 2016.03.29
    • North Korea fires a KN-09 short-range missile from the coastal city of Wonsan in Kangwon Province.
  • 2016.03.21
    • North Korea fires five KN-09 short-range missiles toward the East Sea from near the eastern coastal city of Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province.
  • 2016.03.18
    • North Korea fires two Nodong intermediate-range missiles from a launch site in Sukchon, South Pyongan Province, which flew about 800 kilometers.
  • 2016.03.10
    • North Korea fires two Scud missiles from near Hwangju, North Hwanghae Province toward the East Sea.
  • 2016.03.09
    • North Korea unveils pictures showing a replica of a nuclear warhead for the KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missile and the blurred blueprint of the KN-08 warhead.
  • 2016.03.03
    • North Korea fires six KN-09 short-range rockets from multiple rocket launchers toward the East Sea.
  • 2016.03.02
    • The resolution imposes tough sanctions on North Korea over its fourth nuclear test and a long-range missile launch.
    • The UN Security Council unanimously adopts Resolution 2270.
  • 2016.02.10
    • South Korea decides to suspend operations of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex.
  • 2016.02.07
    • Seoul's Ministry of National Defense announces that South Korea and the U.S. have started official discussions on the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system on the Korean Peninsula.
    • North Korea launches a long-range rocket carrying a Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite from its Dongchang-ri launch site.
  • 2016.01.06
    • North Korea carries out its fourth nuclear test. The North's Korean Central Television(KCTV) claims that the country succeeded in developing a hydrogen bomb.
  • 2015.08.25
    • The two Koreas reach an agreement after marathon negotiations to halt hostile activities against one another. North Korea apologizes for its land mine explosions in the Demilitarized Zone, while Seoul agrees to suspend its psychologial warfare broadcasts.
  • 2015.08.23
    • The two Koreas hold second round of two-plus-two high-level meeting.
  • 2015.08.22
    • South and North Korea sit down for their first official high-level inter-Korean talks in a year and a half at the truce village of Panmunjeom. The South Korean side was spearheaded by National Security Advisor Kim Kwan-jin and Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo, while the North was represented by Director of Korean People's Army General Political Bureau Hwang Pyong-so and Workers' Party Secretary Kim Yang-gon.
  • 2015.08.20
    • The North Korean military fires its artillery at South Korean military loudspeakers in the western front in Yeoncheon County in Gyeonggi Province.
  • 2015.08.18
    • South Korea's Gaeseong Industrial District Management Committee and the North's Central Special Zone Development Guidance General Bureau agree on a five percent minimum wage hike for North Korean workers at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex.
  • 2015.08.05
    • South Korea intends to deliver a letter to North Korea, including a suggestion to hold talks between the two Koreasover matters such as resuming reunions of separated families and Mt. Geumgang tours. North Korea, however, refuses to receive it.
  • 2015.08.04
    • Two South Korean soldiers sustained serious injuries in the explosion of mines planted by the North Korean military along a South Korean patrol route in the southern half of the heavily fortified DMZ.
  • 2015.07.16
    • South and North Korea Fail to reach an agreement on the minimum wage for North Korean workers at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex.
  • 2015.06.14.
    • North Korea fires three KN-class missiles toward the East Sea.
  • 2015.05.22
    • South and North Korea Agree on the wording of the official documents regarding the salary payment for Gaeseong Industrial Complex workers.
  • 2015.05.09
    • North Korea fires three KN-class missiles toward the East Sea.
  • 2015.05.01
    • Seoul's Ministry of Unification says it will actively assist civilian initiatives for inter-Korean exchanges in various fields.
  • 2015.04.27
    • The South Korean government approves a South Korean civic group to send fertlizers to North Korea in first of such measures since the so-called May 24 sanctions on Pyongyang in 2010.
  • 2015.04.07
    • North Korea fires two KN-class missiles toward the Yellow Sea.
  • 2015.04.03
    • North Korea fires four KN-class missiles toward the Yellow Sea.
  • 2015.04.02
    • North Korea fires a KN-class missile toward the Yellow Sea.
    • The South Korean government sends a letter to South Korean companies operating in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, asking them not to accept North Korea's demand to raise its workers' wages.
  • 2015.03.12
    • North Korea fires seven SA-class surface-to-air missiles toward the East Sea.
  • 2015.03.02
    • North Korea fires two Scud missiles toward the East Sea.
  • 2015.02.24
    • North Korea unilaterally informs South Korea that the minimum monthly wage of its workers at the inter-Korean Gaeseong Industrial Complex will rise five-point-18 percent to 74 dollars.
  • 2015.02.08
    • North Korea fires five short-range missiles toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.12.29
    • Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae, as deputy chief of the South Korean Presidential Preparatory Committee for Unification, proposes inter-Korean talks.
  • 2014.10.15
    • South and North Korea hold their first general-level military talks in seven years between South Korean Deputy Defense Minister Yoo Jeh-seung and the North's Reconnaissance General Bureau head Kim Young-cheol.
  • 2014.10.04
    • Three of North Korea's top officials, Hwng Pyong-so, Choe Ryong-hae and Kim Yang-gon, arrive in Incheon to attend the closing ceremony of the Incheon Asian Games.
  • 2014.09.24
    • President Park Geun-hye urges North Korea to improve its human rights conditions in her speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
  • 2014.09.11
    • The first batch of North Korean athletes for the Incheon Asian Games arrive in South Korea.
  • 2014.09.06
    • North Korea fires three short-range missiles toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.09.01
    • North Korea fires a short-range missile toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.08.28
    • North Korea announces that its cheering squad will not be sent to the Incheon Asian Games.
  • 2014.08.14
    • North Korea fires five short-range rockets from 300-millimeter multiple rocket launchers toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.08.11
    • South Korea proposes high-level talks with North Korea.
  • 2014.07.30
    • North Korea fires four short-range rockets from 300-millimeter multiple rocket launchers toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.07.26
    • North Korea fires a Scud missile toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.07.14
    • North Korea fires about one hundred artillery shells and rockets from 240-millimeter, or 122-millimeter multiple rocket launchers toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.07.13
    • North Korea fires two Scud missiles toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.07.09
    • North Korea fires two Scud missiles toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.07.07
    • North Korea announces that it will send a cheering squad to the Incheon Asian Games.
  • 2014.07.02
    • North Korea fires two short-range rockets from 300-millimeter multiple rocket launchers toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.06.29
    • North Korea fires two Scud missiles toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.06.26
    • North Korea fires three short-range rockets from 300-millimeter multiple rocket launchers toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.04.12
    • The North's National Defense Commission criticizes President Park Geun-hye's Dresden Declaration, saying the declaration assumes a unification through the annexation of the North by the South.
  • 2014.03.28
    • President Park Geun-hye announces her three-point vision for the peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula in her speech in Dresden, Germany.
  • 2014.03.26
    • North Korea fires two Nodong intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.03.23
    • North Korea fires 16 Soviet FROG short-range artillery rockets toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.03.22
    • North Korea fires 28 Soviet FROG short-range artillery rockets toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.03.16
    • North Korea fires 25 Soviet FROG short-range artillery rockets toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.03.04
    • North Korea fires four short-range rockets from 300-millimeter multiple rocket launchers and three short-range rockets from 240-millimeter multiple rocket launchers towrd the East Sea.
  • 2014.03.03
    • North Korea fires two Scud missiles toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.02.27
    • North Korea fires two Scud missiles toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.02.21
    • North Korea fires four short-range rockets from 300-millimeter multiple rocket launchers toward the East Sea.
  • 2014.02.20 ~ 25
    • The first inter-Korean family reunions in three years are held at Mount Geumgang.
  • 2014.02.12
    • South and North Korea hold high-level talks at the truce village of Panmunjeom, where they discuss family reunions and suspension of hostile activities against each other.
  • 2014.01.16
    • The North's National Defense Commission announces "important proposals" to South Korea that the two Koreas take steps to completely halt all actions offending and blaming each other from January 30th, or the beginning of the Lunar New Year.
  • 2014.01.06
    • President Park Geun-hye says that unification is a "jackpot" during her New Year's press conference. At the event, she also proposes the two Koreas hold an inter-Korean family reunion event around Lunar New Year's Day.
  • 2014.01.01.
    • North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stresses the need to improve ties with South Korea in his New Year's message.
  • 2013.12.07
    • The North's state-run Korean Central TV shows a documentary film, where the photos of Jang Song-thaek were taken away from a meeting of the Workers' Party of Korea politburo.
  • 2013.12.03
    • The National Intelligence Service mentions the possibility that Kim Jong-un's uncle Jang Song-thaek has been removed from power and his two aides have been executed.
  • 2013.11.21
    • The Standing Committee of the North's Supreme People's Assembly announces that the country will set up 13 new economic development zones and create a special economic zone in Sinuiju, North Pyongan Province.
  • 2013.09.21
    • North Korea postpones inter-Korean family reunions four days prior to the scheduled meetings.
  • 2013.09.16
    • The Gaeseong Industrial Complex resumes operation.
  • 2013.08.23
    • South and North Korea hold working-level Red Cross talks and agree to arrange inter-Korean family reunions on or around the Chuseok thanksgiving holiday.
  • 2013.07.27
    • North Korea holds a large-scale military parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean War armistice.
  • 2013.07.25 ~ 28
    • Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao visits North Korea and meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
  • 2013.07.06 ~ 07
    • South and North Korea hold the first working-level meeting on the resumption of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and agree in principle to restart the inter-Korean complex.
  • 2013.06.26
    • North Korea fires short-range rockets from 300-millimeter multiple rocket launchers toward the East Sea.
  • 2013.06.11
    • North Korea notifies the South of its decision to call off inter-Korean governmental talks after raising an issue with the level of the South's chief delegate to the talks.
  • 2013.06.06
    • The North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland proposes inter-Korean talks on a wide range of issues, including the reopening of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and Mt. Geumgang tours.
  • 2013.05.22 ~ 24
    • North Korean People's Army (KPA) General Political Bureau Director Choe Ryong-hae visits China as a special envoy of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and meets Chinese President Xi Jinping.
  • 2013.05.20
    • North Korea fires two KN-class missiles toward the East Sea.
  • 2013.05.19
    • North Korea fires a short-range rocket from a 300-millimeter multiple rocket launcher toward the East Sea.
  • 2013.05.18
    • North Korea fires six short-range rockets from 300-millimeter multiple rocket launchers toward the East Sea.
  • 2013.04.08
    • North Korea announces it will halt the operation of the inter-Korean Gaeseong Industrial Complex and withdraw all of its workers from the complex.
  • 2013.04.02
    • North Korea announces it will reactivate five-megawatt nuclear reactor at its nuclear facility in Yongbyon.
  • 2013.04.01
    • North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly convenes the seventh session to appoint Park Pong-ju as the country's new premier and decides to create a special economic development district.
  • 2013.03.31
    • The North's Workers' Party's Central Committee convenes a general meeting and adopts a two-track policy that simultaneously pursues economic development and nuclear weapons development.
  • 2013.03.15
    • North Korea fires two KN-class missiles toward the East Sea.
  • 2013.03.08
    • The North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland announces that it wil nullify the inter-Korean nonaggression treaty and cut off an inter-Korean hotline at the truce village of Panmunjeom beginning March 11th.
  • 2013.03.07
    • The UN Security Council passes Resolution 2094 increasing sanctions against North Korea. The North Korean Foreign Ministry declares that it will exercise its right to launch a preemptive nuclear strike.
  • 2013.02.12
    • North Korea pushes ahead with a third nuclear test.
  • 2013.02.10
    • The North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland announces that it wil nullify the inter-Korean nonaggression treaty and cut off an inter-Korean hotline at the truce village of Panmunjeom beginning March 11th.
  • 2013.02.03
    • Kim Jong-un reaches “an important conclusion on protecting sovereignty” during an expanded meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party.
  • 2013.01.26
    • Kim Jong-un decides to take “an important state measure” during a meeting of security and external affairs officials.
  • 2013.01.24
    • North Korea’s National Defense Commission says its long-range rocket launch and high-level nuclear test will be targeting the U.S.
  • 2013.01.22
    • The U.N. Security Council adopts Resolution 2087 calling for sanctions on North Korea.
      North Korea’s Foreign Ministry announces it will end efforts toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and take physical countermeasures.
  • 2012.12.12
    • North Korea successfully launches the “Unha-3” long-range rocket from the Dongchang-ri launch site.
  • 2012.04.16
    • The U.N. Security Council adopts a presidential statement condemning North Korea’s rocket launch.
  • 2012.04.13
    • North Korea launches the “Unha-3” long-range rocket from the Dongchang-ri launch site in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province. The launch turns out to be a failure.

2000

  • 2009.06.12
    • The U.N. Security Council adopts Resolution 1874 calling for sanctions on North Korea.
      North Korea’s Foreign Ministry announces it will weaponize all new plutonium it extracted and start a program to enrich uranium.
  • 2009.05.25
    • North Korea conducts a second nuclear test.
  • 2009.05.08
    • A spokesman for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry says it would be pointless to open a dialogue with the U.S., which employs a hostile policy toward Pyongyang.
  • 2009.04.29
    • North Korea’s Foreign Ministry warns of a nuclear test and an ICBM test launch.
  • 2009.04.25
    • North Korea’s Foreign Ministry announces the nation has started reprocessing spent fuel rods at its Yongbyon nuclear complex.
  • 2009.04.13
    • The U.N. Security Council convenes a plenary session and adopts a presidential statement condemning the North’s April 5th rocket launch. North Korea’s Foreign Ministry declares a boycott of the six-party nuclear talks and pledges to restore its nuclear facilities.
  • 2009.04.05
    • North Korea fires a long-range rocket. (The North claims the rocket is the Eunha-2 space launch vehicle carrying the country’s communication satellite Gwangmyeongseong-2.)
  • 2009.03.24
    • North Korea’s Foreign Ministry says the U.N. Security Council’s hostile action against the North’s rocket launch is tantamount to its denial of the September 19th joint statement. The nation warns the six-party nuclear talks will lose its base and significance, if the September 19th statement is nullified.
  • 2009.01.20
    • Barack Obama is inaugurated as U.S. President.
  • 2008.12.08 ~ 11
    • Chief negotiators in the six-party nuclear talks convene a meeting. The talks go into recess without any outcome, failing to adopt a verification protocol.
  • 2008.12.04 ~ 05
    • Chief nuclear envoys of North Korea and the U.S. hold talks in Singapore to discuss a verification protocol. No progress is made.
  • 2008.10.11
    • The U.S. State Department announces the removal of North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism
  • 2008.09.19
    • North Korea’s Foreign Ministry says the nation is in the process of restoring a nuclear facility in Yongbyon.
  • 2008.07.10 ~ 12
    • Chief negotiators’ meeting (Beijing)…The participants of the six-party talks agree on the completion of North Korea’s nuclear disablement and energy assistance by the end of October. They also agree on principles on nuclear verification.
  • 2008.06.27
    • North Korea destroys the cooling tower of its main nuclear facility in Yongbyon. The demolition comes a day after North Korea has submitted its nuclear declaration.
  • 2008.06.26
    • North Korea submits its nuclear declaration to China, the chair country for the six-party talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear program. U.S. President George W. Bush says he will remove North Korea from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism within 45 days.
  • 2008.05.20
    • The nuclear envoys from South Korea, Japan and the U.S hold talks in Washington. South Korea’s top nuclear envoy Kim Sook confirms that the U.S. and North Korea have agreed to blow up the cooling tower at the North’s key nuclear facility in Yongbyon.
  • 2008.05.08 ~ 10
    • U.S State Department officials visit North Korea. North Korea gives the U.S. key documents related to its past nuclear activities and the operation of its main nuclear reactor in Yongbyon.
  • 2008.04.22 ~ 24
    • A U.S State Department delegation travels to Pyongyang. The U.S. and North Korea agrees to cooperate on verification of the North’s nuclear activities.
  • 2008.04.08
    • Top U.S. and North Korean nuclear envoys begin negotiations in Singapore over Pyongyang's delayed nuclear declaration.
  • 2008.03.13 ~ 14
    • U.S. and North Korean nuclear negotiators discuss the issues of North Korea’s uranium enrichment and nuclear collaboration with Syria in Geneva. North Korea denies its suspected nuclear collaboration with Syria.
  • 2008.02.19
    • U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill and his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye-kwan meet in Beijing. The two discuss North Korea's declaration of its nuclear programs and ways to resume the six-party talks.
  • 2007.12.01 ~ 03
    • A top U.S. nuclear envoy, Christopher Hill, visits to Pyongyang. U.S President George W. Bush sends a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, emphasizing the need for a clear, full and complete nuclear program declaration from the North.
  • 2007.11.01
    • A team of U.S. nuclear inspectors arrives in North Korea. The U.S. government confirms that North Korea begins disabling its nuclear facilities with the aid of a nuclear expert team.
  • 2007.09.27 ~ 10.03
    • The six-party talks resume in Beijing. The United States agrees to keep its pledge to remove North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism in exchange for Pyongyang's disablement of its key nuclear facilities.
  • 2007.09.10 ~ 15
    • A team of U.S., Russian and Chinese inspectors carries out a five-day on-site survey of North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear facilities in preparation for the disablement of the North's nuclear weapons program.
  • 2007.09.02 ~ 03
    • The top nuclear envoys from the US and North Korea hold talks in Geneva on the normalization of relations between the two countries. North Korea agrees to report and disable all its nuclear programs and facilities by late this year.
  • 2007.07.28 ~ 08.11
    • Six IAEA inspectors (second group) install monitoring cameras and put seals on key equipment in North Korea's nuclear facilities.
  • 2007.07.18 ~ 20
    • Six-party talks resume. The parties agree to hold the next main round of talks in early September to discuss second stage implementation of the disabling of North Korea's nuclear facilities.
  • 2007.07.18
    • IAEA chief, Mohamed ElBaradei confirms the shutdown of the North's five nuclear facilities.
  • 2007.07.14 ~ 31
    • IAEA delegation (first group) visits North Korea. IAEA completes the sealing of five nuclear facilities in North Korea, confirming their shutdown.
  • 2007.06.26 ~ 30
  • 2007.06.25
    • North Korea confirms the transfer of its assets ($25m) from a Macao bank to one of its accounts elsewhere, saying the problematic BDA issue is resolved with the completed transfer.
  • 2007.06.21 ~ 22
    • U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill makes his first visit to North Korea. Returing from his two-day visit to Pyongyang, he tells a news conference that North Korea reaffirms its commitment to fully implenting the February 13 agreement to disable its nuclear facilities.
  • 2007.06.14
    • Macao Secretary of Economy and Finance says that Banco Delta Asia transfers 20 million dollars in North Korean accounts out of the bank.
  • 2007.05.15
    • A spokesman for the North's Foreign Ministry says that Pyongyang is determined to swiftly start shutting down its key nuclear facilities as agreed in a February nuclear accord once the money transfer is concluded.
  • 2007.
  • 2007.03.19
    • The United States reaches an agreement with North Korea to allow the release of all $25m dollars of North Korean funds frozen in a Macao bank since 2005.
  • 2007.02.08 ~ 13
    • The third phase of the fifth round of six-party talks resumes in Beijing. North Korea pledges to shut down its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon within sixty days and allow IAEA inspections, in return for energy aid equivalent to 50-thousand tons of heavy fuel oil. Delegates also agree that if North Korea takes further steps to report and disable all nuclear facilities, the North will receive an additional 950-thousand tons of energy aid.
  • 2007.01.16 ~ 188
    • The top nuclear envoys from the United States and North Korea meet in Berlin to seek ways to resume the six-way nuclear talks.
  • 2006.12.18 ~ 22
    • The six-party talks resume after a 13-month hiatus. The talks end in deadlock as the US and North Korea fail to narrow differences on key issues - denuclearization and BDA.
  • 2006.10.31
    • North Korea agrees to return to six-party talks
  • 2006.10.16
    • U.N. Security Council resolution on sanctions on North Korea
  • 2006.10.09
    • The North’s official Korean Central News Agency announces that “a nuclear test was successfully conducted.”
  • 2006.10.06
    • In a statement by its president the U.N. Security Council urges North Korea to abandon the plan.
  • 2006.10.03
    • North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issues a statement that Pyongyang plans to conduct a nuclear test.
  • 2006.09.09
    • Twenty-four financial institutions worldwide including Chinese banks halt transactions with North Korea.
  • 2006.08.18
    • U.S. broadcaster ABC reports that North Korea is preparing an underground nuclear test.
  • 2006.07.16
    • The U.N. Security Council unanimously passes a resolution denouncing its missile launch. North Korea rejects the resolution.
  • 2006.07.05
    • North Korea test fires its long-range Daepodong-2 missiles.
  • 2006.06.01
    • The North Korean Foreign Ministry, through the news media, invites the U.S. chief nuclear negotiator to Pyongyang for talks but Washington refuses.
  • 2006.03.07
    • Chief delegates to the six-party talks from North Korea, the U.S. and China meet in Beijing. North Korea wants the U.S. to first lift sanctions while the U.S. maintains its previous stance.
  • 2006.01.18
    • Chief delegates to the six-party talks from North Korea, the U.S. and China meet in Beijing. North Korea wants the U.S. to first lift sanctions while the U.S. maintains its previous stance.
  • 2005.11.09 ~ 11
    • First phase talks of the six-way dialogue’s fifth round adopt a chairman’s statement on the implementation of the September joint agreement based on the principle of “pledge to pledge” and “action to action.”
  • 2005.09.16
    • The U.S. Treasury Dept. puts Macao-based bank Banco Delta Asia on its blacklist on charges of illegal financial transactions including involvement in North Korean money laundering (financial sanctions begin).
  • 2005.09.13 ~ 19
    • The fourth round of six-nation nuclear talks in Beijing adopts a joint six-point agreement on Sep. 19, which includes a pledge that North Korea will dismantle all of its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear plans.
  • 2005.07.09
    • North Korea announces that it will return to the six-party talks within the month of July.
  • 2005.06.30
    • Unofficial meeting held by Lee Geun, Head of North Korea Foreign Ministry’s US Affairs Bureau, and Joseph DeTrani, US State Department’s special envoy.
      South Korea Ambassador to the US, Hong Suk-hyun, meets North Korea ambassador to the UN, Park Gil-yun.
  • 2005.06.23
    • South-North Korea minister-level talks held in Seoul. Agreement is made to draw up practical measures for peacefully resolving North Korea nuclear weapons issue through conversation.
  • 2005.06.22
    • The US decides to provide 50,000 tons of food to North Korea.
  • 2005.06.21
    • South Korea Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon expresses regret on the US-made remark ‘outpost of oppression’.
  • 2005.06.17
    • North Korea leader Kim Jong-il meets South Korea Unification Minister Chung Dong-young at Pyongyang’s Youngbin Hall, expressing the willingness to “return to the six-party talks in July”
  • 2005.06.11
    • Agreement to “assure North Korea of regime security as well as actively pursue measures to normalize US-North Korea relations once North Korea gives up its nuclear program” made in South Korea-US summit talks.
  • 2005.06.06
    • Contact is made between Joseph DeTrani, US State Department special envoy, Jim Foster, the Director of the State Department's Korea Office, Park Gil-yun, North Korea ambassador to the UN, and deputy ambassador Han Sung-ryul.
  • 2005.05.31
    • US President Bush makes comment on “efforts for a diplomatic solution to North Korea’s nuclear weapons issue”.
  • 2005.05.25
    • The US announces suspension of operations to recover the remains of US troops in North Korea.
  • 2005.05.16 ~ 18
    • Vice minister-level South-North Korea talks held at Gaesung. Agreement is made to hold minister-level talks in the future.
  • 2005.05.13
    • Contact is made between Joseph DeTrani, US State Department special envoy, Jim Foster, the Director of the State Department's Korea Office, Park Gil-yun, North Korea ambassador to the UN, and deputy ambassador Han Sung-ryul.
  • 2005.05.11
    • North Korea announces that extraction of used nuclear fuel rods has been completed.
  • 2005.05.08
    • At a summit meeting in Russia, South Korea and China’s leaders urge the DRPK to return to the six-party talks. The North Korea Foreign Ministry suggests that contact should be made with the US in order to ascertain the status on the sovereignty issue.
  • 2005.04.25
    • The North Korea Foreign Ministry announces that it will regard US attempts to take the nuclear weapons issue to the UN Security Council as a declaration of war.
  • 2005.04.18
    • Kim Sook, Head of the South Korea Foreign Ministry‘s North American Affairs Bureau, confirms that the 5MW-class reactor in Youngbyun has halted operation.
  • 2005.04.04
    • North Korea Foreign Ministry 1st Division Chief Kang Suk-ju makes top-secret visit to Beijing.
  • 2005.03.23
    • Park Bong-ju, North Korea Cabinet Premier, meets Chinese President Hu Jin-tao.
  • 2005.03.02
    • North Korea announces via KCBS (Korean Central Broadcasting System) the Foreign Ministry memorandum:“due to the apparent sincerity that President Bush’s second administration has shown, North Korea is willing to participate in the six-party talks if adequate conditions and justification for resuming the talks are presented.”
  • 2005.02.10
    • North Korea officially declares possession of nuclear weapons and an indefinite boycott of six-party talks
  • 2004.06.
    • 3rd round of six-party talks held
  • 2004.02.
    • 2nd round of six-party talks held
  • 2003.08.
    • 1st round of six-party talks held.
  • 2003.04.
    • Pyongyang announces withdrawal from NTP
  • 2002.12.
    • Pyongyang resumes operation of nuclear facilities and expels IAEA monitors from the country
  • 2002.11.
    • Heavy oil supply suspended by the U.S.
  • 2002.10.
    • American officials say North Korea privately admitted to running a highly enriched uranium (HEU) program
  • 2001.
    • IAEA argues North Korea has 1-2 nuclear weapons

1990

  • 1998.
    • North Korea test-launches missile with a range of 1,700-2,200 km
  • 1994.
    • Agreed Framework calls for 2 light water nuclear reactors and heavy oil to be provided to North Korea in exchange for Pyongyang’s nuclear freeze.
  • 1992.
    • Nuclear crisis erupts due to Pyongyang’s refusal to allow IAEA inspection of its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon

1980

  • 1989.
    • North Korean nuclear activities detected by French commercial satellite
  • 1985.
    • Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) signed.
      U.S. argues Pyongyang constructed a covert nuclear reactor.

1970

  • 1970.
    • Second nuclear reactor acquired

1960

  • 1965.
    • Soviet-style nuclear reactor for research purposes constructed at Yongbyon, North Korea