Backgrounder: DPRK nuclear issue

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Let's take a brief look at some major events involving the DPRK nuclear issue.

The DPRK announced its first successful underground nuclear test on October 9th, 2006.

South Korean officials said the test appeared to have been carried out at Hwadaeri, near the DPRK's northeast coast, and a 3.58-magnitude seismic tremor was detected.

Five days after, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution on the DPRK's nuclear test.

It demands the DPRK eliminate its nuclear weapons and nuclear programs, and unconditionally return to the six-party talks. It also prohibits the DPRK from conducting ballistic missile-related activities of any kind.

Under international pressure, the DPRK returned to the six-party talks after a 13-months suspension.

Ten months after, the second session of the sixth round of six-party talks ended with a joint document on the denuclearization in the DPRK. The DPRK agreed to disable all its existing nuclear facilities by the end of the year.

The DPRK then blew up the cooling tower at the Yongbyon nuclear complex on June, 27th, 2008. This meant the DPRK took its first step toward complete denuclearization.

On April 5th, 2009, the DPRK claimed it successfully sent a communications satellite into orbit. The UN Security Council issued a statement condemning the launch. The DPRK then announced it would pull out of the six-party talks, and resume its nuclear activities.