Learn mandarin - Chronology of North Korea's nuclear weapons development

WORLD / Background

Chronology of North Korea's nuclear weapons development

(AP)
Updated: 2006-10-09 11:51

-- 1993: North Korea shocks world by saying it will quit Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty, later suspends its withdrawal.

-- 1994: North Korea, United States sign agreement in Geneva, North
pledges to freeze, eventually dismantle, nuclear weapons program in
exchange for help building two power-producing nuclear reactors.

-- September 17, 1999: US President Bill Clinton agrees to first major
easing of economic sanctions against North Korea since Korean War's end
in 1953.

-- July 2000: North Korea said it would restart nuclear program if
Washington does not compensate for loss of electricity due to delays in
building nuclear power plants.

-- June 2001: North Korea warns it will reconsider missile test
moratorium if Washington doesn't resume contacts aimed at normalizing
relations.

-- July 2001: US State Department reports North Korea developing
long-range missile.

-- December 2001: US President Bush warns Iraq and North Korea will be
"held accountable" if they develop weapons of mass destruction.

-- January 29, 2002: Bush labels North Korea, Iran and Iraq an "axis of
evil."

-- October 4, 2002: North Korea tells visiting US delegation it has a
second covert nuclear weapons program, Washington says.

-- November 11, 2002: US and key Asian allies, Japan and South Korea,
halt oil supplies to North promised in 1994 deal.

-- January 10, 2003: North Korea says it will withdraw from Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty.

-- April 16, 2003: US, Chinese and North Korean officials announce talks
in Beijing aimed at ending nuclear standoff.

-- April 24, 2003: North Korea says it has nuclear weapons and may test,
export or use them depending on US actions, Washington says.

-- August 27-29, 2003: North Korea joins first round of six-nation
nuclear talks in Beijing, which include China, US Japan, Russia and South
Korea.

-- February 25-28, 2004: Second round of six-nation talks.

-- June 23-26, 2004: Third round of six-nation talks.

-- September 2004: North Korea refuses to attend fourth round talks,
accusing US of "hostile" policies.

-- February 10, 2005: North Korea announces it has nuclear weapons.

-- July 26, 2005: Fourth round of six-nation talks begins, ends in recess
after 13 days with no agreement.

-- September 13, 2005: Talks resume.

-- September 15, 2005: US blacklists a Macau-based bank for alleged
involvement in North Korea's illicit activity such as money laundering
and counterfeiting, leads the bank to freeze North Korean assets.

-- September 19, 2005: North Korea pledges to dismantle nuclear programs
in exchange for pledges of energy assistance; US pledges not to invade
and to respect North's sovereignty in an agreement ending talks.

-- November 9-11, 2005: Fifth round of six-nation talks.

-- January 3, 2006: North Korea says it won't return to talks unless the
US lifts financial restrictions imposed for its alleged currency
counterfeiting and other illegal activities.

-- March 7: North Korean, US officials meet in New York for talks over US
financial restrictions.

-- July 5: North Korea launches seven missiles into the Sea of Japan,
including a long-range Taepodong-2, drawing international condemnation an
a later UN Security Council resolution condemning it.

-- September 26: North Korea rejects further talks on its nuclear
program, claims Washington wants to rule the world.

-- October 3: North Korea says it will conduct a nuclear test in the face
of what it claimed was "the US extreme threat of a nuclear war."

-- October 9: North Koreas says it has conducted its first-ever nuclear
test.

Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours

Today's Top News 

� Beijing 'resolutely opposed' to nuclear test

� Sino-Japanese trade volume to rise

� S. Korean nominated as UN leader

� Chinese tourists urged to behave

� 2 million may protest against Chen

Top World News 

� UN Security Council plans Afghanistan mission

� Lettuce recalled over E. coli concerns in U.S.

� Iran: Sanctions threat a 'rusty' weapon

� U.S. coalition kills 30 Shiite fighters

� U.S. House's Foley investigation wide open

Alibaba is the largest B2B marketplace in the world. Source model ship,
wooden puzzle, one-piece toilet, RC hovercraft, photo album, prom dress,
pocket bike, Vaginal Speculum, Samurai Sword, String Panty and PVC Pipe.

Learn Chinese, Learn mandarin, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet