Chronology of major events surrounding N. Korean missile, nuke programs

SEOUL, April 5 (Yonhap) -- The following is a chronology of major events related
to North Korea's missile and nuclear programs.

1996
April 21-22 -- North Korea and the U.S. hold their first round of bilateral
missile talks in Berlin. The U.S. demands that North Korea respect the Missile
Technology Control Regime (MTCR), an informal and voluntary international
agreement aimed at controlling sales of ballistic missile systems, components and
technology. North Korea reportedly calls for huge compensation for lost
missile-related revenue.

1997
June 11-13 -- The second round of North Korea-U.S. missile negotiations takes
place in New York. No major breakthrough is made.

1998
Aug. 31 -- North Korea test-fires a three-stage Taepodong-1 missile over Japan,
raising global concerns about its missile technology.
Oct. 1 -- A third round of North Korea-U.S. missile talks begins in New York but
makes little progress.

1999
March 29-31 -- North Korea and the U.S. hold a fourth round of missile talks in
Pyongyang but produce no deal.
Sept. 7-12 -- In the fourth round of negotiations in Berlin, North Korea agrees
to a moratorium on testing any long-range missiles for the duration of talks with
the U.S.

2000
July 12 -- The fifth round of North Korea-U.S. missile talks in Kuala Lumpur end
without a deal, as Pyongyang repeats its demand for compensation in return for
halting missile exports.
Sept. 27 -- North Korea and the U.S. resume talks in New York on nuclear issues,
missiles and terrorism.
Oct. 24 -- U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright wraps up a two-day trip to
Pyongyang to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Kim tells Albright that his
country will not carry out additional test launches of its Taepodong-1 missile.
Nov. 1-3 -- The seventh round of missile talks is held in Kuala Lumpur. No
agreement is produced.

2002
Oct. 16 -- The U.S. announces that North Korea admitted to having a clandestine
program to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons during Assistant Secretary of State
James Kelly's trip to Pyongyang.
Nov. 5 -- North Korea threatens to end its moratorium on ballistic missile tests
if North Korea-Japan normalization talks do not make progress.

2003
Jan. 10 -- North Korea declares its withdrawal from the nuclear Nonproliferation
Treaty (NPT).
Aug. 27-29 -- The inaugural round of six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear
program is held in Beijing.

2005
March 2 -- North Korea's foreign ministry states that Pyongyang is no longer
bound by its more than five-year-old moratorium on testing longer-range missiles.
Sept. 19 -- North Korea reaches an agreement with South Korea, the U.S, China,
Russia and Japan in the six-way talks on guiding principles for its
denuclearization, known as the Sept. 19 Joint Statement.

2006
July 5 -- North Korea test-launches seven ballistic missiles, including an
advanced long-range Taepodong-2 missile. The Taepodong-2 fails about 40 seconds
after lift-off.
July 15 -- The U.N. Security Council adopts Resolution 1695 condemning North
Korea's missile launches.
Oct. 9 -- North Korea conducts a nuclear test.
Oct. 14-- The U.N. Security Council adopts Resolution 1718, which bans Pyongyang
from all activity related to ballistic missile development.

2007
Feb. 8-13 -- The six-way talks produce the Feb. 13 Agreement on initial steps to
implement the Sept. 19 Joint Statement.
Oct. 3 -- The six nations announce an agreement on follow-up measures for the
Sept. 19 Joint Statement.

2008
June 26 -- North Korea submits a declaration of its nuclear activity. The U.S.
removes Pyongyang from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Dec. 11 -- Four days of six-way talks end without compromise amid disputes over
how to inspect North Korea's nuclear sites.

2009
Jan. 20 -- Barack Obama is sworn in as U.S. president after saying during his
campaign he would be willing to meet directly with the leaders of rogue states,
including North Korea.
Feb. 24 -- North Korea announces that it is making full-scale preparations for
the launch of a rocket designed to put an experimental communication satellite
into orbit.
March 12 -- North Korea's official news agency reports that Pyongyang has
informed the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International
Maritime Organization of its plan to fire the rocket between April 4 and 8.
April 5 -- North Korea fires a long-range rocket.
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