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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.