North Korea's Nuclear Testing
Background and discussion about North Korea's nuclear testing. United States intelligence analysts have determined that the strength of the nuclear weapon tested by North Korea on Oct 9th, 2006 was less than one kiloton, extremely small... [more]
Background and discussion about North Korea's nuclear testing. United States intelligence analysts have determined that the strength of the nuclear weapon tested by North Korea on Oct 9th, 2006 was less than one kiloton, extremely small for a nuclear explosion. But the major political fear is that N. Korea's nuclear ambition and testing will spark an arms race in the region.
Historical Timeline for N. Korea's Nuclear Testing
Important dates in North Korea's nuclear ambitions:
This note is a work in progress. Did we miss an important date? Edit the note and add one.
1993 To the world’s surprise, North Korea says it will withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. It later suspends its withdrawal.
DEC. 1993 The Central Intelligence Agency tells President Clinton that North Korea probably has developed one or two nuclear bombs.
OCT. 1994 North Korea and the United States sign an agreement in Geneva in which the North pledges to freeze and eventually dismantle its nuclear weapons program, in exchange for help building two power-producing nuclear reactors.
SEPT. 1999 President Clinton agrees to the first major easing of economic sanctions against North Korea since the armistice that ended fighting in the Korean War in 1953.
MARCH 1999 North Korea agrees to allow the United States to inspect a huge underground site that Washington suspects is the beginning of a renewed North Korean effort to build atomic weapons.
JULY 2000 North Korea threatens to restart its nuclear program if Washington does not compensate it for delays in building the promised civilian nuclear power plants.
JULY 2001 The State Department reports that North Korea is developing a long-range missile.
DEC. 2001 President Bush warns that Iraq and North Korea will be held accountable if they develop weapons of mass destruction.
JAN. 2002 President Bush labels North Korea, Iran and Iraq an “axis of evil.”
OCT. 2002 North Korea tells visiting American delegation that it has a second covert nuclear weapons program, according to American officials.
NOV. 2002 The United States, Japan and South Korea halt oil supplies to the North that were promised in the 1994 agreement.
DEC. 2002 North Korea starts to reopen a sealed plutonium reprocessing plant.
JAN. 2003 North Korea says again that it will withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
FEB. 2003 North Korea restarted a reactor at its primary nuclear complex, American intelligence officials announce.
APRIL 2003 North Korea says it has nuclear weapons and may test, export or use them depending on the actions of the United States, American officials say.
AUG. 2003 Talks to seek a resolution of nuclear tensions in Korea convene in Beijing. China, Russia, Japan, the United States and the two Koreas take part. These six-nation talks convene again in February and June 2004.
FEB. 10, 2005 North Korea announces again that it has nuclear weapons.
MAY 15, 2005 The Bush administration on Sunday warned North Korea for the first time that if it conducted a nuclear test, the United States and several Pacific powers would take punitive action
JULY 26, 2005 The six-nation talks convene for a fourth round, but are recessed with no agreement after 13 days.
SEPT. 13 The recess ends and talks resume.
SEPT. 15, 2006 The United States blacklists a Macau-based bank and accuses it of involvement in illicit activity by North Korea, includingmoney laundering and counterfeiting. The bank freezes North Korean assets it holds.
SEPT. 19, 2006 The six-nation talks conclude with an agreement in which North Korea pledges to dismantle its nuclear programs in exchange for energy assistance; the United States promises not to invade the North and to respect North’s sovereignty.
NOV. 9, 2006 A fifth round of six-nation talks convenes for two days.
JAN. 3, 2006 North Korea says it will no longer take part in the six-nation talks unless the United States lifts the financial restrictions it imposed on North Korea over allegations of currency counterfeiting and other illegal activities.
JULY 5, 2006 North Korea launches seven missiles into the Sea of Japan, including a new Taepodong-2 model that is designed for long range but explodes soon after launch. Other nations condemn the tests, and the U.N. Security Council later passes a resolution condemning them.
SEPT. 26, 2006 North Korea rejects further talks on its nuclear program, and accuses the United States of wanting to rule the world.
OCT. 3, 2006 North Korea says it will conduct a nuclear test in the face of what it called “the U.S. extreme threat of a nuclear war.”
OCT. 9, 2006 North Korea says it has tested a nuclear weapon successfully. Neighboring nations react with alarm and condemnation.
This note originally inpired by a New York Times timeline, found here.
This note is a work in progress. Did we miss an important date? Edit the note and add one.
1993 To the world’s surprise, North Korea says it will withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. It later suspends its withdrawal.
DEC. 1993 The Central Intelligence Agency tells President Clinton that North Korea probably has developed one or two nuclear bombs.
OCT. 1994 North Korea and the United States sign an agreement in Geneva in which the North pledges to freeze and eventually dismantle its nuclear weapons program, in exchange for help building two power-producing nuclear reactors.
SEPT. 1999 President Clinton agrees to the first major easing of economic sanctions against North Korea since the armistice that ended fighting in the Korean War in 1953.
MARCH 1999 North Korea agrees to allow the United States to inspect a huge underground site that Washington suspects is the beginning of a renewed North Korean effort to build atomic weapons.
JULY 2000 North Korea threatens to restart its nuclear program if Washington does not compensate it for delays in building the promised civilian nuclear power plants.
JULY 2001 The State Department reports that North Korea is developing a long-range missile.
DEC. 2001 President Bush warns that Iraq and North Korea will be held accountable if they develop weapons of mass destruction.
JAN. 2002 President Bush labels North Korea, Iran and Iraq an “axis of evil.”
OCT. 2002 North Korea tells visiting American delegation that it has a second covert nuclear weapons program, according to American officials.
NOV. 2002 The United States, Japan and South Korea halt oil supplies to the North that were promised in the 1994 agreement.
DEC. 2002 North Korea starts to reopen a sealed plutonium reprocessing plant.
JAN. 2003 North Korea says again that it will withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
FEB. 2003 North Korea restarted a reactor at its primary nuclear complex, American intelligence officials announce.
APRIL 2003 North Korea says it has nuclear weapons and may test, export or use them depending on the actions of the United States, American officials say.
AUG. 2003 Talks to seek a resolution of nuclear tensions in Korea convene in Beijing. China, Russia, Japan, the United States and the two Koreas take part. These six-nation talks convene again in February and June 2004.
FEB. 10, 2005 North Korea announces again that it has nuclear weapons.
MAY 15, 2005 The Bush administration on Sunday warned North Korea for the first time that if it conducted a nuclear test, the United States and several Pacific powers would take punitive action
JULY 26, 2005 The six-nation talks convene for a fourth round, but are recessed with no agreement after 13 days.
SEPT. 13 The recess ends and talks resume.
SEPT. 15, 2006 The United States blacklists a Macau-based bank and accuses it of involvement in illicit activity by North Korea, includingmoney laundering and counterfeiting. The bank freezes North Korean assets it holds.
SEPT. 19, 2006 The six-nation talks conclude with an agreement in which North Korea pledges to dismantle its nuclear programs in exchange for energy assistance; the United States promises not to invade the North and to respect North’s sovereignty.
NOV. 9, 2006 A fifth round of six-nation talks convenes for two days.
JAN. 3, 2006 North Korea says it will no longer take part in the six-nation talks unless the United States lifts the financial restrictions it imposed on North Korea over allegations of currency counterfeiting and other illegal activities.
JULY 5, 2006 North Korea launches seven missiles into the Sea of Japan, including a new Taepodong-2 model that is designed for long range but explodes soon after launch. Other nations condemn the tests, and the U.N. Security Council later passes a resolution condemning them.
SEPT. 26, 2006 North Korea rejects further talks on its nuclear program, and accuses the United States of wanting to rule the world.
OCT. 3, 2006 North Korea says it will conduct a nuclear test in the face of what it called “the U.S. extreme threat of a nuclear war.”
OCT. 9, 2006 North Korea says it has tested a nuclear weapon successfully. Neighboring nations react with alarm and condemnation.
This note originally inpired by a New York Times timeline, found here.
People in Pictures
Top Current Events Articles
 |
The Most Scandalous Political Sex Scandals: Proof That Gavin Newsom isn't Perfect
Political sex scandals have been wrecking political lives since the birth of politics. Here are some of the most scandalous stories.
|
 |
The World's Hottest Women in Politics
From Spain's Princess Letizia to Italy's Mara Carfagna, the game of politics is no stranger to beautiful, powerful women. Following is a list of women whose influence is matched only by their sheer hotness.
|
 |
The 50 Most Infamous Female Teacher Sex Scandals
We've rounded up the fifty most infamous female teacher sex scandals the Internet has seen, and ranked them from most famous to least. We do it because we care.
|
Popular Current Events Zines
