SURVIVAL GAME
How nuclear weapons gave one of the world’s poorest countries a bargaining chip to ensure the continuity of its hereditary dictatorship June 1994
North Korea withdraws from IAEA after the agency discovers evidence of its N-weapons programme. Kim Il Sung dies that year, son Kim Jong Il takes over
January 2003
North Korea withdraws from the NPT after several years of negotiations aimed at halting its missile and nuclear weapon programme. Admits it has nuclear weapons
October 2006
First North Korean nuclear test. Followed by nuclear tests of varying intensity in 2009 and 2013
December 2011
Kim II Sung dies, succeeded by son Kim Jong-un who steps up nuclear and missile development projects
July 2017
North Korea tests its first ICBM, the Hwasong-14, its 14th missile test that year. With 10,000 km range, first North Korean missile capable of reaching mainland US
September 2017
North Korea tests a hydrogen bomb and claims it can be mounted on an ICBM that could target the US mainland. Test yield estimated at over 100 KT
November 2017
North Korea launches the Hwasong-15, a 13,000 km range ICBM capable of targeting all of the US
April 27 2018
Kim Jong-un crosses border into South Korea and pledges denuclearisation of the peninsula
June 12 2018
Trump-Kim summit in Singapore where the North Korean leader reiterates pledge for complete denuclearisation of Korean peninsula