WORLD> Background
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WORLD> Background
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Chronology of DPRK's missile program
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-05 11:56 A timeline of developments in Pyongyang's missile program: -- August 31, 1998: DPRK fires suspected missile over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean, calling it a satellite. -- September 13, 1999: DPRK pledges to freeze long-range missile tests. -- June 2001: DPRK warns it will reconsider missile test moratorium if Washington doesn't resume contacts aimed at normalizing relations. -- July 2001: US State Department reports DPRK developing long-range missile. -- September 2002: DPRK pledges in summit talks with Japan to extend its moratorium on missile tests beyond 2003. -- January 10, 2003: DPRK announces withdrawal from Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. -- March 10, 2003: DPRK fires a land-to-ship missile off east coast into waters between South Korea and Japan. -- October 2003: DPRK fires two land-to-ship missiles. -- May 2004: DPRK reaffirms its missile moratorium in summit talks with Japan. -- May 2005: DPRK fires a short-range missile into the Sea of Japan. -- March 8, 2006: DPRK fires two short-range missiles. -- June 18, 2006: DPRK vows to increase its "military deterrent" to cope with "US attempts to provoke war". -- July 5, 2006: DPRK launches seven missiles into the Sea of Japan, including a long-range Taepodong-2. -- July 15, 2006: UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1695 demanding DPRK halt missile program. -- October 9, 2006: DPRK conducts underground nuclear test blast after citing "extreme threat of a nuclear war" from US. -- October 15, 2006: UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1718 condemning test, imposing sanctions and banning DPRK from activities related to its nuclear weapons program, including "their means of delivery and related materials." -- July 14, 2007: DPRK shuts down its main Yongbyon reactor, later starts disabling it. -- June 27, 2008: DPRK destroys cooling tower at Yongbyon. -- September 19, 2008: DPRK says it is restoring a key atomic reactor. -- October 11, 2008: US removes DPRK from a list of states that sponsor terrorism. -- February 15: DPRK claims it has the right to "space development." -- February 23: South Korea says DPRK has a new type of medium-range ballistic missile capable of reaching northern Australia and Guam. -- March 11: DPRK declares satellite launch will take place between April 4-8. -- April 5: DPRK launches long-range rocket from its base at Musundan-ri on the country's northeast coast. |
