Developments in North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs:

Aug. 31, 1998: North Korea fires suspected missile over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean, calling it a satellite.

Sept. 13, 1999: North Korea pledges to freeze long-range missile tests.

March 10, 2003: North Korea fires land-to-ship missile off east coast into waters between Korean Peninsula and Japan.

October 2003: North Korea fires two land-to-ship missiles.

May 2005: North Korea fires short-range missile into waters between Korean Peninsula and Japan.

March 8, 2006: North Korea fires two short-range missiles.

July 5, 2006: North Korea launches seven missiles into waters between Korean Peninsula and Japan, including long-range Taepodong-2.

July 15, 2006: UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1695 demanding North Korea halt missile program.

Oct. 9, 2006: North Korea conducts underground nuclear test blast after citing "extreme threat of a nuclear war" from U.S.

Oct. 15, 2006: UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1718 condemning test, imposing sanctions and banning North Korea from activities related to its nuclear weapons program, including "their means of delivery."

July 14, 2007: North Korea shuts down main Yongbyon nuclear reactor, later starts disabling it.

Sept. 19, 2008: North Korea says it will restore atomic reactor.

Oct. 11, 2008: U.S. removes North Korea from list of states that sponsor terrorism.

April 5, 2009: North Korea launches long-range rocket. Two of three stages push rocket over Pacific but third stage fails. Despite North Korea's claims of success, no satellite reaches orbit, the U.S. North American Aerospace Defence Command says.

April 13, 2009: UN Security Council adopts presidential statement condemning North Korea's rocket launch.

April 14, 2009: North Korea quits six-party nuclear talks and vows to restart nuclear facilities in protest against the UN statement.

May 25, 2009: North Korea conducts second nuclear test.

A North Korean military band performs to celebrate their country's rocket launch in front of a triumphal gateway in Pyongyang. North Korea successfully launched a rocket on Dec. 12, boosting the credentials of its new leader and stepping up the threat the state poses to opponents. (Kyodo/Reuters)

June 12, 2009: UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1874 sanctioning North Korea for nuclear test.

June 13, 2009: North Korea says it will start enriching uranium.

Jan. 11, 2012: North Korea test fires three short-range missiles.

Feb. 29, 2012: North Korea announces moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests in food aid deal with U.S.

March 16, 2012: North Korea announces plan to launch rocket in April to put scientific satellite into orbit.

April 13, 2012: North Korea launches long-range rocket from west coast site. Rocket fizzles shortly after liftoff. Pyongyang acknowledges failure. The United States announces it will not carry out food aid deal with North Korea.

April 19, 2012: North Korea says it has figured out cause of failure and pledges to continue rocket launches as part of space program.

June 9, 2012: North Korea denies planning nuclear test following failed rocket launch.

Dec. 1, 2012: North Korea declares intention to launch another long-range rocket mounted with satellite between Dec. 10 and 22.

Dec. 9, 2012: North Korea announces extension of launch window to Dec. 29 due to an unidentified technical deficiency in rocket.

Dec. 12, 2012: North Korea launches long-range rocket.

Feb. 12, 2013: North Korea announces that it has successfully detonated a miniaturized nuclear device at a northeastern test site, several hours after seismic activity was detected and reported by South Korean, American and Japanese monitoring agencies. The agencies detected an earthquake with a magnitude between 4.9 and 5.2.