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Use Cases
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Resources
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Pricing
1956
% complete
The Soviet Union begins training North Korean scientists and engineers, enabling them to acquire basic knowledge to initiate a nuclear program
1959
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North Korea and the USSR sign a nuclear cooperative agreement. Over the next 30 years Moscow provides North Korea with basic nuclear training and technology.
1962
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The Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center with the IRT-2000 research reactor is completed.
1965
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The Yongbyon reactor reaches a power rating of 2MW(th) and they begin to successfully pursue fission experiments wth materials purchased from the USSR in 1963
1970 - 1979
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South Korea refuses North Korea's offer to forge a joint, covert nuclear program
1970 - 1979
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Kim II Sung's request for nuclear weapons assistance are rebuffed by both China and the USSR
1980
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North Korea begins mining operations at various locations near Sunchon and Pyongsan.
1984
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North Korea completes construction of a Radiochemical Laboratory - a reprocessing plant used to separate plutonium from nuclear fuel at the Yongbyon Research Center. This allows them to establish a full plutonium fuel cycle
1984 - 1986
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North Korea completes construction of a 5MWe gas-cooled, graphite moderated nuclear reactor for plutonium production
1985
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North Korea reaches dangerous levels of nuclear capacity with advancements due to the increased Soviet support for the nuclear program
1985
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North Korea joins the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty
1989
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North Korea's nuclear program is conclusively confirmed by U.S. satellite images - leading to the first nuclear crisis between the US and North Korea
1989 - 1994
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North Korea is forced to deal with the fall of the USSR, normalization of Sino-Soviet relations, the death of Kim II Sung, an economic downturn and food and energy shortages. This slowed down their nuclear program significantly
1991
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North Korea attempts to acquire Soviet scientists with knowledge of high energy physics, however the scientists are detained by the Soviet officials.
1992
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North Korea signs the Safeguard agreement with the IAEA
1993
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North Korea pulls out of the agreement and in the same year tests the Nodong-1 missile.
1994
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North Korea signs the Agreed Frameworks with the U.S.
1997
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It was reported that North Korea provided Pakistan with the No-dong missile and production technology in exchange for gas centrifuge technology.
1998
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U.S. aid is given to North Korea in exchange for them to halt their missile program.
1998
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North Korea test fires Taepodong-1 missile over Japan.
1998
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A suspected underground nuclear facility in Kumchang-ri was discovered by U.S. spy satellite imagery. This lead to the U.S. congress to halt $35 million in heavy oil aid and inspections of the new facility by June 1, 1999
1999
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North Korea signed the Berlin Agreement
2002
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North Korea expels the IAEA inspectors
2002
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U.S. begins reporting on a secret North Korean Highly Enriched Uranium Program (HEU)
2003
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Resumption of activity in the Yongbyon reactor
2003 - 2005
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Six Party Talks fail to make substantial progress due to North Korean acts of aggression via the missile tests in February 2003 and May 2005
2003
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George W. Bush turns down a proposition from the North to freeze its reactors in exchange for a list of concessions.
2003
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North Korea withdrawals from the NPT
2006
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The Six Party Talks continue
2006
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North Korea launches 7 missiles. The two short and medium range missiles were successful, while the long range missile was not.
2006
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North Korea conducts underground nuclear tests
2007
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Another agreement between North Korea and the U.S. was signed
2007
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Rotating teams of U.S. and Russia officials oversee the dismantlement though not the disposal of more then half of Yongbyon's 8,000 spent fuel rods
2009
% complete
North Korea tests its second nuclear weapon and expels IAEA again
2009
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North Korea tests the Unha-2 missile over Japan
2010
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North Korea reveals a secret advanced uranium enrichment plant
2012
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North Korea tests Kwangygongsong-3 satellite missile, but it fails
2012
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North Korea is successful in launching a satellite into orbit, using a long-range rocket. This sparks a lot of concern and discussion.