On October 9, 2006, North Korea conducted its first nuclear test. The blast was smaller than expected and U.S. officials suggested that it may have been an unsuccessful test or a partially successful fizzle. North Korea has previously stated that it has produced nuclear weapons and according to U.S. intelligence and military officials it has produced, or has the capability to produce, up to six or seven such devices.
On March 17, 2007, North Korea told delegates at international nuclear talks it would begin shut down preparations for its main nuclear facility. This was later confirmed on 14 July 2007 as International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors observed the initial shut-down phases of the currently operating 5 MW Yongbyon nuclear reactor, despite there being no official time line declared. In return, the reclusive nation has received 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil shipped from South Korea. Once the old small nuclear reactor is permanently shut down, North Korea will receive the equivalent of 950,000 tons of fuel oil when the six-nation talks reconvene. Following breakthrough talks held in September 2007, aimed at hastening the end of North Korea’s nuclear program, North Korea was to “disable some part of its nuclear facilities” by the end of 2007, according to the US Assistant Secretary of State.
The details of such an agreement are due to be worked out in a session held in the People’s Republic of China which will involve South Korea, China, Russia and Japan. Terms for the agreement have thus far not been disclosed, nor has it been disclosed what offer was made on the United States’ part in exchange. The possibility of removing North Korea from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism has been discussed, which imposes a ban on all arms related trade with countries on the list, along with withholding US aid. Should these bans be lifted, the US may help North Koreans following devastating floods in August 2007.
Disarmament
On 25th June 2008 it was announced that North Korea was to end its nuclear program, its Nuclear declaration is to be handed over to China in Beijing on Thursday, 26th June 2008. The Nuclear devices that North Korea already has however, will possibly be handed over on a later date. North Korea has begun to dismantle its nuclear program. and has declared that it will turn over all of its plans. It destroyed the cooling tower for the 5 MWe reactor on 27th June 2008.
Chronology of events
- On October 12, 1994, the United States and North Korea signed the ‘Agreed
Framework”: North Korea agreed to freeze its plutonium production program in exchange for fuel oil, economic cooperation, and the construction of two modern light-water nuclear power plants. Eventually, North Korea’s existing nuclear facilities were to be dismantled, and the spent reactor fuel taken out of the country. All of the operative provisions of the accord relate to freezing the North’s plutonium program and make no reference to uranium enrichment. Pyongyang scrupulously observed these provisions until the Bush administration stopped the oil shipments in December 2002.
- By October 1997, the spent fuel rods were encased in steel containers, under IAEA inspection.
- In October 2002 the United States confronted North Korea with the claim that it knew the North was developing gas centrifuge technology to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons, and threatened to terminate the Agreed Framework. According to the U.S., North Korea confirmed its uranium program; according to North Korea, it replied that it is “entitled” to have such a program or “an even more powerful one” to deter a pre-emptve U.S. attack, unless the U.S. agreed to a non-aggression pact.
- In December 2002, the United States took the first step to terminate the Agreed Framework, suspending fuel oil shipments, arguing North Korea’s uranium program violated the “spirit” of the agreement. North Korea responded by announcing it would restart plutonium production and repeating its intention to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
- On January 10, 2003, North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty.
- In late January 2003, Japan Defense Agency Director Shigeru lshiba told reporters that if North Korea “begins preparations to attack [Japan], for instance by fueling its missiles, we will consider North Korea is initiating a military attack” and preemptively strike missile bases in DPRK.
- The United States stated on February 26, 2003 that North Korea had reactivated a reactor at its main nuclear complex.
- North Korean fighter aircraft intercepted and may have targeted a United States reconnaissance aircraft over International Waters in the Sea of Japan (East Sea of Korea) on March 2, 2003, the first such interception since 1969.
- On April 24, 2003, the United States, People’s Republic of China, and North Korea met in Beijing for trilateral discussions. The United States threatened sanctions against North Korea, which North Korea has said would constitute a “declaration of war.
- On May 12, 2003, North Korea declared the 1992 accord with South Korea nullified, which agreed to keep the Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons, citing US. hostility as a threat to its sovereignty. South Korea considers the accord in effect.
- On August 28, 2003, North Korea announced that it is in possession of nuclear weapons, has the means to deliver them, and will soon be carrying out a nuclear test to demonstrate this capability.
- On September 2d, 2004, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Su-hon told the UN General Assembly that “hostile policy” of the United States was responsible for the nuclear standoff. At a news conference after his address, Choe said his country had converted 8,000 spent nuclear fuel rods into weapons.
- North Korea announced on Februar.y 10, 2005 that it had developed nuclear weapons for its self-defense, and suspended participation in the Six-party talks.
- In early May 2005 American claimed satellite imagery showed possible preparations for a nuclear test, with holes being dug and then filled and a “reviewing stand” built several miles from the site.
- On September 19, 2005, Six-party talks resulted in an agreement where North Korea agreed to abandon its nuclear weapons program for economic cooperation and assistance, repeating its right to “peaceful uses of nuclear energy,” while the U.S. recognized North Korea’s sovereignty and stated that it had no intention to attack North Korea. The provision of a nuclear light-water reactor would be discussed at “an appropriate time”; the US. and North Korea immediately disagreed on when that should be.
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