Chronology of key events in nuclear issue on Korean Peninsula

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 24, 2004

Chronology of key events in nuclear issue on Korean Peninsula

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The second round of the six-party talks between China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ( DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan is due to open Wednesday in Beijing. The following is a chronology of key events in the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula since 1992.

1992

May. 25 A delegation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrives in DPRK on a two-week nuclear inspection. As a result of the trip, Hans Blix, director-general of the IAEA says DPRK has not yet acquired the capability of producing nuclear weapons.

1993

March 12 The DPRK announces it would withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in three months, citing the continuance by South Korea and the United States of their "Team Spirit" joint military maneuvers and the IAEA's demand that the DPRK's military facilities be subject to inspection. The DPRK joined the NPT in late 1985.

June 2-11 The DPRK and the United States hold formal talks for the first time in New York. In a joint statement issued at the end of the fourth round of talks, the two sides agree on assurances against the threat and use of force including nuclear weapons; peace and security in a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula including impartial application of full-scope safeguards; mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs; support for the peaceful reunification on the Korean Peninsula. The DPRK announces the suspension of its withdrawal from the NPT.

July 14-19 The DPRK and the United States hold their second formal talks in Geneva. The DPRK agrees to have dialogues with the IAEA as soon as possible and the United States says it would help the DPRK reconstruct its nuclear reactors.

1994

July 8-Aug. 12 The DPRK and the United States hold their third formal talks in Geneva. In a joint statement the DPRK agrees to replace its existing graphite-moderated nuclear reactors with light-water reactors. The United States promises to provide a light-water reactor and alternative energy to the DPRK.

Oct. 21 The DPRK and the United States sign a Framework Agreement in Geneva. Under the accord, the DPRK agrees to freeze its existing nuclear program in exchange for the construction of one 2,000 megawatt light-water reactor or two 1,000 megawatt light- water reactors by the United States within 10 years. Until the light-water reactor is completed, the United States and other countries would provide heavy fuel oil to the DPRK for energy compensation.

2002

Nov. 14 Executive members of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), an international consortium administering the 1994 nuclear agreement with the DPRK, meet in New York and decide to suspend fuel oil shipments to the DPRK as of December.

Nov. 29 The IAEA Board of Governors adopts a resolution requiring the DPRK to give up its nuclear program, disclose all related facilities and accept IAEA inspections.

Dec. 22 The DPRK states it has "started the work of removing the seals and monitoring cameras from the frozen nuclear facilities for their normal operation to produce electricity."

2003

Jan. 10 DPRK Ambassador to the United Nations Pak Gil Yon says the DPRK has decided to withdraw from the NPT as the treaty and the IAEA have become tools of the United States against the DPRK.

April 23-25 China and the international community persuade the DPRK and the United States to hold three-way talks with China in Beijing on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

June 9 The Korean Central News Agency said in a commentary if the United States does not abandon its anti-DPRK policy and continues to threaten the DPRK by nuclear weapons, the DPRK will have no choice but to seek " a nuclear deterrent force".

Aug. 27-29 Reports that DPRK had admitted developing its own nuclear weapon prompted renewed diplomatic activity resulting in the first round of the six-party talks held inconclusively in Beijing between China, the DPRK, the United States, Russia, South Korea and Japan.

Sept. 30 The DPRK says it will maintain and even enhance its nuclear deterrent force unless the United States drops its hostile policy toward the country.

Oct. 20 US President George W. Bush meets the ROK President Roh Moo-hyun on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Bangkok. He says the United States intends to grant a written security garantee to the DPRK and seek a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue through the six-party talks.

Dec. 9 The DPRK says as the first step in solving the nuclear crisis, Washington must remove the DPRK from its list of nations promoting terrorism, lift political, economic and military blockades and provide energy assistance including heavy oil and electricity. In exchange, the DPRK would freeze its nuclear activities.

2004

Jan. 21 An American nuclear weapons expert who joined an unofficial US delegation visiting a nuclear facility at Yongbyon in DPRK said he saw no convincing evidence that the DPRK has the ability to build a plutonium-based nuclear device, though he did see evidence it most likely can make plutonium.

Feb. 6 Abdul Qadeer Khan, founder of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, admitted to having transferred nuclear technology secrets to the DPRK.

Feb. 21 Korean Central News Agency refutes Pakistan transferred nuclear technology secrets to DPRK saying it possesses a self-reliant nuclear deterrent force.

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