United States and North Korea since 1945
A history of war, espionage, nuclear deals and missiles
WAR ON THE PENINSULA
1945
The peninsula is divided along the 38th parallel between the Soviet-backed regime of Kim Il-Sung in the North and a South under United States protection
1950
North Korea invades the South, US intervenes to lead a coalition that retakes Seoul
1953
An armistice-- not a full-fledged peace treaty --is signed and Washington imposes sanctions on Pyongyang
"AXIS OF EVIL"
2002
US President George W. Bush labels North Korea, Iran and Iraq an "axis of evil"
2004
Pyongyang refuses to negotiate with George W. Bush, denouncing him as a tyrant and political imbecile
2005
North Korea ends test moratorium blaming the Bush administration's "hostile" policy
2006
North Korea conducts its first nuclear test
SPY SHIPS AND SPY PLANES
1968
The spy ship USS Pueblo is captured by North Korea. After 11 months, its 83 crew members are released. According to Pyongyang, the ship violated its territorial waters, a charge the US denies
1969
North Korea shoots down a US spy plane
NEW KIM ON THE BLOCK
2009
North Korea conducts second underground nuclear test
2011
Kim Jong Il dies. His son Kim Jong Un takes power
2013
Kim Jong Un conducts his first nuclear test
2016
Two more nuclear tests in North Korea
BLACKLIST
1987
Bomb allegedly planted by two North Korean agents on a Korean Air flight explodes over the Andaman Sea, killing all 115 on board
1988
Washington puts North Korea on its blacklist of state supporters of terrorism
"FIRE AND FURY"
2017
Series of new missile tests. Kim declares "the entire US territory is now within our ICBM range"
June: American student Otto Warmbier sent back to the US with brain damage after months of detention in North Korea. Dies within a few days
August: US President Donald Trump threatens "fire and fury" if Pyongyang continues to threaten the United States
Sept 3: North Korea carries out its sixth nuclear test, claiming it to be a hydrogen bomb
NEW CONTACTS, NEW LEADER
HISTORIC MEETING
June 12, 2018
Historic meeting of Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump
North Korea commits to work towards "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula"
The US "committed to provide security guarantees" to North Korea
The two sides join efforts to build a lasting peace on the Korean peninsula
Both sides commit to recovering the remains of US soldiers who dies in North Korea
MISSILE DIPLOMACY
1998
North Korea test fires its first long-range missile
1999
Kim Jong-Il declares a moratorium on missile tests. Washington relaxes sanctions on North Korea
2000
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visits Pyongyang, prompting brief thaw in relations
NO DEAL
February 28, 2019
Second meeting between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump finishes early without agreement
The two leaders cut short their discussions and ended with no joint communique
Scheduled signing ceremony and working lunch cancelled
Trump says he refused North Korea demand to lift sanctions
Trump says North Korea will not resume nuclear tests