Chronology of U.S.-North Korean Nuclear and Missile Diplomacy

 Chronology U.S.-North Korean Nuclear and Missile Diplomacy

The United States and the international community tried for many years to stop North Korea from developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology. There have been many periods of crisis, stalemate or tentative progress towards denuclearization in these efforts. North Korea has always been a challenge to the global nuclear nonproliferation regime.

The United States has tried a range of policy options to counter the proliferation risks posed in North Korea. This includes military cooperation with U.S. Allies in the region and wide-ranging sanctions. Non-proliferation mechanisms, such as export control, have also been implemented. Two major diplomatic initiatives were also undertaken by the United States to see North Korea give up its efforts at nuclear weapons in exchange for humanitarian aid.

The United States and North Korea agreed to the Agreed framework in 1994 after North Korea announced its intention to withdraw from the nuclear Nonproliferation treaty (NPT). This requires that non-nuclear weapon countries forgo the acquisition and development of nuclear weapons. This agreement required Pyongyang to stop developing illicit plutonium weapons and provide aid in return.

North Korea claimed in January 2003 that it had pulled out of the NPT after the 2002 agreement collapsed and that it was resuming operation of its nuclear facilities.

The Six-Party Talks were initiated in August 2003 and involved China, Japan. North Korea, Russia. South Korea and the United States. These talks were able to reach critical breakthroughs during periods of crisis and stalemate. North Korea made a pledge to end "all nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs", and to return the NPT in 2005. The parties then agreed on a series to implement the 2005 agreement in 2007.

However, those talks fell apart in 2009 after disagreements over verification and the launch of a North Korea rocket. Since then Pyongyang stated that it would not return to negotiations and is no more bound by the agreements. The five remaining parties stated that they were committed to the negotiations and urged Pyongyang's recommitment to its 2005 denuclearization commitment.

A diplomatic initiative was also launched when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared that the country's nukes were "complete" and offered to talk with Seoul about North Korea's participation the South Korean Olympics. Kim Jong Un’s sister met with South Korean President Moon Jaein as part of North Korea’s delegation to the Olympics. The meeting led to an inter-Korean dialogue, which included a meeting between Kim Jong Un's sister and Moon Jaein on April 27, which resulted in a declaration that referenced the shared goal for denuclearization.

Kim Jong Un expressed interest in meeting with President Donald Trump in the United States during a high level meeting with South Korean officials held in Pyongyang in march. Trump accepted the invitation and the two leaders will be meeting in Singapore, June 12.

The following chronology provides a more detailed overview of developments in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and the efforts made to end them, starting in 1985.

Skip to: 1985.

1985

December 12, 1985: North Korea accepts the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. However, it does not conclude a safeguards agreement to the International Atomic Energy Agency. North Korea has only 18 months to sign such an arrangement under Article III. North Korea will tie its compliance to this provision to South Korea's withdrawal of nuclear weapons.

1991

September 27, 1991: President George Bush declares unilaterally the withdrawal of all foreign naval and land-based tactical nukes. Around 100 U.S. nuclear arms were located in South Korea. Eight days later, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev reciprocates.

November 8, 1991: South Korean President Roh Tae Woo issues the Declaration on the Denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula in response to President Bush's unilateral action. The Declaration on the Denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula is a declaration under which South Korea vows not to produce or possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons. Additionally, the declaration prohibits South Korea possessing nuclear enrichment or nuclear reprocessing facilities. These promises, if they are implemented, will satisfy all North Korea's conditions regarding IAEA inspections at its nuclear facilities.

1992

January 20, 1992: The South-North Joint Declaration for the Denuclearization and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula is signed by the two Koreas. According to the declaration, both nations agree not to test, manufacture, produce or receive nuclear weapons or possess, store or deploy them. They also agree that they will cooperate in mutual inspections.

January 30, 1992: North Korea, six years after the signing of the NPT concludes a comprehensive safeguards arrangement with the IAEA.

March 6, 1992: North Korea's Lyongaksan Machineries and Equipment Export Corporation and Changgwang Sinyong Corporation were placed under sanctions by the United States for their missile proliferation activities.

April 9, 1992: North Korea ratifies safeguards agreements with IAEA.

May 4, 1992: North Korea files its nuclear material declarations with the IAEA. The declarations include seven sites and approximately 90 grams plutonium, which could be subjected to inspection by IAEA inspectors. Pyongyang claims that the nucleus was created by reprocessing 89 deficient fuel rods. Inspections by the IAEA were made to verify that this declaration was correct from mid-1992 through early 1993.

June 23, 1992: The United States imposes sanctions against North Korean entities sanctioned for their actions in March.

September 1992: IAEA inspectors uncover discrepancies in North Korea’s "initial" report on its nuclear programme and request clarifications on several issues including the North Korean reprocessed plitonium.

1993

February 9, 1993: IAEA requires special inspections at 2 sites believed to contain nuclear waste. Strong evidence has shown that North Korea is cheating under the NPT. North Korea rejects the request of IAEA.

March 12, 1993: North Korea, amid calls for special inspections and demands for a withdrawal from the NPT, announces its intention in three months to pull out citing ArticleX provisions, which allow for withdrawal for supreme security considerations.

April 1, 1993: IAEA declares North Korea has not adhered to its safeguards agreement. It cannot guarantee that North Korean nuclear material is not being diverted to non-peaceful uses.

June 11, 1993: North Korea's decision to withdraw from NPT was suspended after talks with the United States in New York. This happened just before the withdrawal would be legally effective. North Korea also agrees that the IAEA safeguards will be applied impartially.

The United States guarantees that it will not use force or threaten to use force, including nukes. Washington also guarantees not to interfere with North Korea’s internal affairs.

July 19, 1993: North Korea declares in a joint declaration that it is prepared to "start consultations with IAEA over outstanding safeguards issues" and that they are ready to negotiate IAEA inspections for its nuclear facilities. According to the joint statement, Pyongyang could consider a deal with America to replace its graphite-based nuclear reactors with lighter-water reactors (LWRs), that are more proliferative.

Late 1993: According to the Defense Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the Central Intelligence Agency, North Korea had separated approximately 12 kilograms plutonium. This amount could be enough to create at least one or more nuclear weapons. How to Hold Back the Ante Until the Point of No Return