Chronology of North Korea's missile program

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Published: APRIL 5, 2009 08:05
  • Aug. 31, 1998: North Korea fires suspected missile over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean, calling it a satellite.
  • Sept. 13, 1999: North Korea pledges to freeze long-range missile tests.
  • 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.
  • September 2002: North Korea pledges in summit talks with Japan to extend its moratorium on missile tests beyond 2003.
  • Jan. 10, 2003: North Korea announces withdrawal from Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
  • March 10, 2003: North Korea fires a land-to-ship missile off east coast into waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan.
  • October 2003: North Korea fires two land-to-ship missiles.
  • May 2004: North Korea reaffirms its missile moratorium in summit talks with Japan.
  • May 2005: North Korea fires a short-range missile into waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan.
  • March 8, 2006: North Korea fires two short-range missiles.
  • June 18, 2006: North Korea vows to increase its "military deterrent" to cope with what it calls US attempts to provoke war.
  • July 5, 2006: North Korea launches seven missiles into waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan, including a long-range Taepodong-2.
  • July 15, 2006: UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1695 demanding North Korea halt missile program.
  • Oct. 9, 2006: North Korea conducts underground nuclear test blast after citing "extreme threat of a nuclear war" from US.
  • Oct. 15, 2006: UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1718 condemning test, imposing sanctions and banning North Korea from activities related to its nuclear weapons program, including "their means of delivery and related materials."
  • July 14, 2007: North Korea shuts down its main Yongbyon reactor, later starts disabling it.
  • June 27, 2008: North Korea destroys cooling tower at Yongbyon.
  • Sept. 19, 2008: North Korea says it is restoring a key atomic reactor.
  • Oct. 11, 2008: US removes North Korea from a list of states that sponsor terrorism.
  • Feb. 15: North Korea claims it has the right to "space development."
  • Feb. 23: South Korea says North Korea has a new type of medium-range ballistic missile capable of reaching northern Australia and Guam.
  • March 11: North Korea declares satellite launch will take place between April 4-8.
  • April 5: North Korea launches long-range rocket from its base at Musundan-ri on the country's northeast coast.