WORLD / Background
North Korea nuclear crisis timeline
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-10-09 11:53
North Korea's state news agency announced on Monday that the country had
conducted its first nuclear test, less than a week after Pyongyang
threatened to do so.
Following is a chronology of major milestones in the North Korean nuclear
crisis:
October 2002: Top State Department envoy James Kelly confronts Pyongyang
with evidence Washington says points to a covert uranium-enrichment
programme. North Korea says "it is entitled to possess not only nuclear
weapons but other types of weapons more powerful than them in defence of
its sovereignty in face of the U.S. threat".
December 2002: North Korea says it plans to restart Yongbyon reactor,
disables International Atomic Enegy Agency (IAEA) surveillance devices at
Yongbyon and expels IAEA inspectors.
January 2003: North Korea says it is quitting the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty with immediate effect.
At talks between U.S. team led by Kelly and North Koreans and China in
Beijing, American officials say North Korea told the United States that
it has nuclear weapons and might test them or transfer them to other
countries.
August 2003: First round of six-way talks between North and South Korea,
China, Japan, Russia and the U.S. on the nuclear issue takes place in
Beijing. North Korea threatens to test nuclear bomb and test-fire new
missile.
October 2003: North Korea says it has enhanced its "nuclear deterrent"
with plutonium reprocessed from thousands of nuclear fuel rods. Pyongyang
says it is willing to display the deterrent.
January 2004: Pyongyang permits unofficial U.S. delegation, including
nuclear expert, to tour Yongbyon. U.S. nuclear expert Sigfried Hecker
says he is not convinced North Korea could turn its nuclear technology
into a weapon or mount it on a missile.
February 2004: Father of Pakistani nuclear bomb, scientist Abdul Qadeer
Khan, admits he passed on uranium-linked technology to Libya, Iran and
North Korea. Pyongyang calls the confession a lie.
Second round of six-party talks held in Beijing.
June 2004: Third round of talks take place in Chinese capital. U.S.
proposes fuel aid and security guarantees to North Korea if it scraps
nuclear programmes.
February 10, 2005: North Korea's Foreign Ministry issues statement saying
country has manufactured nuclear weapons for self-defence and is quitting
six-way talks indefinitely.
June 17: North Korean leader Kim Jong-il tells senior South Korean envoy
in Pyongyang that North Korea can return to talks as early as July, if
United States meets certain conditions, such as treating North Korea with
"respect".
July 9: North Korea announces it has agreed to return to stalled talks in
last week of July.
July 22: North Korea calls for peace treaty to replace armistice that
ended hostilities in 1950-53 Korean War, saying it would resolve nuclear
crisis.
July 26: Six-party envoys begin fourth round of talks.
Parties all push to issue joint statement, but talks deadlock as North
Korea insists on having civilian nuclear energy.
August 7: Marathon fourth round goes into recess after running 13 days,
longer than all previous sessions.
August 23: Top U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill says issue of North
having civilian nuclear plan would not break deal.
September 13: Fourth-round talks resume in Beijing.
September 19: Six parties issue long-awaited joint statement.
North Korea promises to give up its nuclear weapons and programmes. In
exchange, other parties express willingness to provide oil, energy aid
and security guarantees. Agreement says North Korea could have nuclear
energy programme in future if it meets strict safeguards.
November 9: Fifth round of talks in Beijing break off without progress.
North Korea later protests the U.S.'s freezing of its funds in a Macau.
July 5, 2006: North Korea launches seven missiles from its east coast,
including the long-range Taepodong-2.
October 3: North Korea's Foreign Ministry says the country will conduct
its first nuclear test but gives no date.
October 9: State Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reports North Korea
has conducted a successful underground test.
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Today's Top News
� Beijing 'resolutely opposed' to nuclear test
� Sino-Japanese trade volume to rise
� S. Korean nominated as UN leader
� Chinese tourists urged to behave
� 2 million may protest against Chen
Top World News
� UN Security Council plans Afghanistan mission
� Lettuce recalled over E. coli concerns in U.S.
� Iran: Sanctions threat a 'rusty' weapon
� U.S. coalition kills 30 Shiite fighters
� U.S. House's Foley investigation wide open
Alibaba is the largest B2B marketplace in the world. Source model ship,
wooden puzzle, one-piece toilet, RC hovercraft, photo album, prom dress,
pocket bike, Vaginal Speculum, Samurai Sword, String Panty and PVC Pipe.
No comments:
Post a Comment