Timeline: North Korea's missile testing

Timeline: North Korea's missile testing

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Below is a timeline of North Korea's missile and nuclear programme over the past ten years.

  • 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.
  • 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 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.
  • 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: U.N. 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 U.S.
  • Oct. 15, 2006: U.N. 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."
  • July 14, 2007: North Korea shuts down its main Yongbyon reactor, later starts disabling it.
  • Sept. 19, 2008: North Korea says it is restoring a key atomic reactor.
  • Oct. 11, 2008: U.S. removes North Korea from a list of states that sponsor terrorism.
  • April 5, 2009: North Korea launches long-range rocket.
  • April 13: The U.N. Security Council adopts a presidential statement condemning North Korea's rocket launch.
  • April 14: North Korea quits six-party nuclear talks and vows to restart its nuclear facilities in protest against the U.N. statement.
  • May 25: North Korea conducts its second nuclear test.
  • June 12: The U.N. Security Council adopts Resolution 1874 sanctioning North Korea for its nuclear test.
  • June 18: Japanese newspaper reports North Korea may fire a long-range missile toward Hawaii in early July. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he has positioned more missile defenses around Hawaii.
  • Mid-June: North Korea announces a no-sail zone off its east coast from June 25 to July 10 for military drills.
  • July 2: North Korea test-fires four short-range missiles.
  • July 4: North Korea fires several missiles, believed to be banned ballistic missiles.

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