[North Korea-United States relations and North Korean missiles]
1993 / North Korea test fires a Rodong missile (range of 1200km).
August 1997 / U.S. enacts sanctions against North Korea.
September 1997 / U.S. discovers North Korea has deployed Rodong 1 missile.
March 1998 / U.S. and North Korea have bilateral discussions.
August 1998 / North Korea launches Taepodong 1 missile.
May 1999 / U.S. North Korea policy coordinator William Perry visits Pyongyang.
September 1999 / Perry report is issued to U.S. congress. U.S. announces relaxation of economic sanctions, North Korea announces suspension of missile tests.
September 1999 - May 2000 / U.S. and North Korea engage in missile talks.
June 2000 / North Korea reaffirms suspension of missile tests.
July 2000 - November 2000 / Missile talks continue. North Korea demands short-range missiles be excluded from negotiations. U.S. demands North Korea discard Rodong missiles that have been deployed. North Korea announces it is willing to talk about the issue of exporting missiles if the U.S. is ready to give compensation, but the U.S. refuses.
[Recent Taepodong 2 activity (2006)]
Early May / Signs that North Korea is preparing to launch missile.
May 30 / North Korean foreign minister Baek Nam-sun visits China.
June 1 / North Korea's foreign ministry invites U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill to Pyongyang, warns U.S. it could face hard-line measures.
June 1 / In television conversation between Chinese premier Hu Jintao and U.S. president George W. Bush, Hu urges Bush to allow Hill to visit Pyongyang, Bush expresses concern about missile launch.
June 12 / Taepodong 2 missile on positioned on launch pad, U.S. officials warn that North Korea will launch within one week.
June 13 / In telephone conversation with Chinese foreign minister Li Zhaoxing, U.S.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice calls on China to pressure North Korea against missile launch.
June 16 / Possible missile fueling begins.
June 17 / U.S. and Japan demand Pyongyang call off missile launch, warn of punitive measures.
[North Korea's Missile Timelines] |
