North Korea's Nuclear Timeline

  • North Korea joins NPT

    North Korea signs the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
  • The International Atomic Energy Agency inspections

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) demands that inspectors be given access to two nuclear waste storage sites. In response, North Korea threatens to quit the NPT but eventually opts to continue participating in the treaty.
  • North Korea and United States Agreement

    North Korea and the United States sign an agreement. North Korea pledges to freeze and eventually dismantle its old, graphite-moderated nuclear reactors in exchange for international aid to build two new light-water nuclear reactors.
  • United States Public Bashing

    United States President George W. Bush labels North Korea, Iran and Iraq an "axis of evil" in his State of the Union address. "By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger," he says.
  • North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Program Revealed

    The Bush Administration reveals that North Korea has admitted operating a secret nuclear weapons program in violation of the 1994 agreement.
  • North Korea's NPT Withdrawal

    North Korea withdraws from the NPT.
  • North Korea Reactivates Nuclear Reactor

    The United States confirms North Korea has reactivated a five-megawatt nuclear reactor at its Yongbyon facility, capable of producing plutonium for weapons.
  • Declaration of Possession of Nuclear Weapons

    Declares it has nuclear weapons.
  • North Korea Gives Up Its Nuclear Arsenal

    North Korea tentatively agrees to give up its entire nuclear program, including weapons. In exchange, the United States, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea say they will provide energy assistance to North Korea, as well as promote economic cooperation.
  • North Korean Test Missiles

    After North Korea test fires long range missiles, the UN Security Council passes a resolution demanding that North Korea suspend the program.
  • North Korean Test Missiles Success

    North Korea claims to have successfully tested its first nuclear weapon. The test prompts the UN Security Council to impose a broad array of sanctions.
  • North Korea Agrees to Close Main Nuclear Reactor

    North Korea agrees to close its main nuclear reactor in exchange for an aid package worth $400 million
  • North Korean Agreements

    At six-party talks in Beijing, North Korea signs an agreement stating it will begin disabling its nuclear weapons facilities.
  • North Korea Misses The Deadline

    North Korea misses the deadline to disable its weapons facilities.
  • Destruction of Water Cooling Tower

    North Korea destroys a water cooling tower at the Yongbyon nuclear facility.
  • North Korea's Inspection Refusal

    Six-party talks are held in Beijing. The talks break down over North Korea's refusal to allow international inspectors unfettered access to suspected nuclear sites.
  • North Korea's Second Missile Test

    North Korea announces it has conducted its second nuclear test.
  • United Nations Reponse

    The UN Security Council condemns the nuclear test and imposes new sanctions.
  • Stanford Professor Publishes a Report

    A Stanford University professor publishes a report that North Korea has a new nuclear enrichment facility.
  • United States Meets With North Korean Delegation

    US officials meet with a North Korean delegation in Geneva, Switzerland, in an effort to restart the six-party nuclear arms talks that broke down in 2008.