North Korea

By iv.anii

  • Korean War Ends

    The war ends when a truce is signed by a representative of the US-backed UN forces, and a representative of North Korea and allied Chinese forces. South Korea was not a signatory. There is no formal peace treaty, meaning the two countries remain technically at war. The Korean war cost 2 million lives.

  • DMZ/38th Parallel is instated

    DMZ was created as each side agreed to move their troops back 2,000 m from the front line, creating a buffer zone 4 km. Soldiers from both sides may patrol inside the DMZ, but they may not cross the MDL.

  • UN Members

    North and South Korea become members of the UN.

  • Weapons

    North Korea claims to have built nuclear weapons

  • North Korea Launches

    North Korea launches a long-range rocket capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Kim Jong-il to walk out of talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programme.

  • Second Nuclear Test

    North Korea announces it has successfully conducted a second nuclear test, sparking an emergency meeting of the UN security council. It also withdraws from the 1953 armistice that ended the war between the two Koreas.

  • Kim Jong Il Dies

    North Korea announces that Kim Jong-il is dead - Ten days later, Kim Jong-un is appointed commander of the armed forces and General Secretary of the Korean Workers Party.

  • Threats

    North Korea claims it has missiles than can hit the US mainland after South Korea and Washington announce a deal to extend the range of South Korea's ballistic missiles.

  • Sanctions Tighten

    UN Security Council further tightens sanctions by aiming to cut one of North Korea's main exports, coal, by 60 per cent.

  • Final Stages

    Kim Jong-un says North Korea is in the final stages of developing long-range guided missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

  • Historic Meeting

    Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump's historic meeting in Singapore seeks to end a tense decades-old nuclear stand-off. A follow-up meeting in Hanoi in February 2019 breaks down after North Korea refuses nuclear disarmament in return for lifting economic sanctions.