Treaties, tests & threats: Timeline of DPRK’s nuclear program

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DPRK NUCLEAR MISSILE PROGRAM

Final preparations are underway for a historic summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and DPRK Leader Kim Jong Un. They will meet in Singapore next week to discuss Pyongyang’s nuclear program, which as CGTN’s Jessica Stone explains, is a point of contention decades in the making.

1985 – Pyongyang signs the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. But within a decade, the DPRK would threaten to quit the treaty, protesting a request by international inspectors to access two nuclear waste storage sites.

1994 – The DPRK signed an agreement with the U.S.  to freeze and ultimately dismantle its old nuclear reactors in exchange for international aid to build two light-water reactors.

2002 – U.S. President George W. Bush labeled the DPRK part of a quote “Axis of Evil,” along with Iran and Iraq. Washington claimed Pyongyang admitted to operating a secret nuclear weapons development program.

2003 – The DPRK withdrew from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, and then claimed it had nuclear weapons.

2006 – After pledging to give up its entire nuclear weapons program, the DPRK tests a nuclear weapon and long-range missiles. The UN Security Council imposed sanctions.

2007 – At six-party talks in Beijing, Pyongyang made another pledge to disable its nuclear weapons facilities.

2008 – Even though the DPRK missed the deadline, the U.S. removed it from its list of state sponsors of terror. Another round of six-party talks were held in Beijing.

2009 – The DPRK conducted another nuclear test. Again, the UN Security Council imposed sanctions.

2013 -The DPRK conducts a third nuclear test, which is the first such test under Kim Jong Un. The United Nations imposed more sanctions.

2015 – Pyongyang claimed to have a hydrogen bomb and the ability to miniaturize nuclear weapons.  Washington says it doesn’t believe these claims.

2016 – The DPRK says it successfully conducted a hydrogen bomb test.

2017 – Pyongyang claimed it successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile, and the DPRK threatened a nuclear strike on the “heart of the US” if any attempt is made to depose Kim.

2018 – Donald Trump bragged about the size of Washington’s nuclear arsenal, but days later said he’s willing to meet Kim. By March 8, Seoul’s national security chief announced Trump accepted an invitation to meet Kim.