9 January 2008
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a North Korean state-run news source, accuses Japanese lawmakers of revising guidelines for the operation of missile defense systems as being aimed to allow Japan to preemptively strike North Korea. Japan recently revised its guidelines so that the defense minister can now directly issue orders to intercept missiles using missile defense systems, instead of waiting for the prime minister to order missile defense operations. KCNA repeated an often-written complaint that Japan is constructing a fictitious "missile threat" from North Korea to establish military primacy in the region.
—KCNA, "North Korean Party Paper on Japan's Revision of Guidelines for 'Missile Shield,'" in BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 9 January 2008, in Lexis-Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

24 January 2008
An updated CRS Report for Congress on the "North Korean Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States" is released, arguing, as it did in 2007, that North Korea is developing at least two new types of ballistic missiles based on liquid-fueled, Soviet R-27 missile technology. The report estimates that that the Musudan, the land-based version of the missile, has a range of 2,500 — 3,200 km, and the unnamed sea-based version of the R-27 has a range of at least 2,500 km. The report concludes that North Korea "may be actively pursuing a sea-based ballistic missile capability." Anonymous U.S. officials cited within the report contend that North Korea may be developing the new sea-based ballistic missile to threaten the continental United States, while other experts note that North Korea lacks a submarine that could carry such a missile within striking distance of the continental United States.
—Steven Hildreth, "North Korean Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States," CRS Report for Congress, Updated 24 January 2008, www.fas.org/ sgp/ crs/ nuke/ RS21473.pdf.

25 February 2008
KCNA decries the U.S. effort to shoot down USA 193, a nonfunctioning American spy satellite on February 20 using a modified Navy Standard Missile (SM)-3 as an attempt to gain military superiority in space. The news agency alleged that the United States was attempting to prevent other countries from weaponizing outer space, and that shooting down the satellite could spark an arms race in space.
—KCNA, "North Korea Says U.S. Trying to Start 'Arms Race' in Space," in BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 25 February 2008, in Lexis-Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

2 March 2008
The spokesman for the P'anmunjom Mission of the Korean People's Army gave a radio address denouncing an annual, joint U.S.-South Korean military exercise known as "Key Resolve." The spokesman argued that the United States and South Korea were fabricating a nuclear and missile threat from North Korea to justify the exercise, but warned that North Korea would prepare a "counterstrike" against the U.S. and South Korean forces if the military exercise turned into an offensive attack against North Korea. The BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific service noted that officials from the P'anmunjo'm Mission also issued statements in response to joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises in 2006 and 2007.
—Central Broadcasting Station, "North Korean Military Warn of 'Counterstrike' Against South-U.S. Exercises," in BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 2 March 2008, in Lexis-Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

3 March 2008
An unclassified U.S. intelligence report covering WMD acquisition patterns for foreign countries concludes that North Korea continued attempts to export missiles to other states during 2006. The report notes that North Korea maintained robust missile supply relationships with Iran and Syria, but that two United Nations Security Council Resolutions banning the sale and transfer of missiles to and from North Korea have impeded many countries from buying North Korean missiles.
—U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions, 1 January to 31 December 2006," Unclassifed March 3, 2008, Uploaded 2 July 2008, www.dni.gov/ reports/ Acquisition_ Technology_ Report_ 030308.pdf.

28 March 2008
According to Yonhap News Agency in South Korea, North Korea test-fired three short-range missiles off of its west coast, into the West Sea. South Korean officials posit that the missiles were either P-20 Styx or SY-1anti-ship cruise missiles. South Korean officials downplayed the incident, commenting that the missile tests were part of a routine military training exercise. Yet analysts within South Korea posited that the tests were conducted in reaction to the tough stance that newly elected South Korean president Lee Myung-bak has taken towards North Korea. Lee Myung-bak has criticized North Korea for its human rights records and implored the country to move forward in nuclear disarmament talks. This was North Korea's first missile test since June 27, 2007, when it fired three KN-02 short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan.
—Ching-Ching Ni, "North Korea Test-Fires Missiles," Los Angeles Times, 28 March 2008; Blaine Harden, "North Korea Test-Fires Missiles in Ongoing Show of Truculence," Washington Post, 29 March 2008; Richard Spencer, "Americans Condemn N Korean Missile Test," Daily Telegraph, 29 March 2008, all in Lexis-Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com; Joseph Bermudez, "North Korea Carries out ASCM Test Exercises," Jane's Defense Weekly, 1 April 2008, www.janes.com; Arthur Bright, "North Korea Test-Fires Missiles After South Korea Adopts Tougher Line," Christian Science Monitor, 28 March 2008, www.csmonitor.com/ 2008/ 0328/ p99s01-duts.html.

30 March 2008
In a statement published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), an unnamed North Korean military commentator threatened to reduce South Korea "to ashes" if the South Korean made any preparations to attack North Korea. The warning came in response to a March 26 statement made by Kim Tae-young, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, that South Korea should "the find enemy [North Korea]'s nuclear facilities and strike the area." North Korean officials construed the statement to mean that South Korean military would preemptively strike North Korean nuclear facilities if North Korea tried to attack South Korea with nuclear weapons. Tae-young's statement came during a period of heightened tensions between the two Korean states, after North Korea expelled approximately a dozen South Korean officials from a joint North-South business park in North Korea on March 27, and tested several short-range missiles on March 28.
—Kim Yon-se, "North Steps Up Criticism of South," Korea Times, March 30, 2008; Choe Sang-Hun, "North Korea Threatens to Reduce South Korea to 'Ashes' at Slightest Provocation," New York Times, 31 March 2008, all in Lexis-Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

11 April 2008
The Japanese government voted to extend sanctions against North Korea until mid-October 2008. The sanctions were originally imposed on North Korea after it conducted missile tests in July 2006 and tested a nuclear device in October 2006. The extended sanctions prohibit ships with North Korean flags from entering Japanese ports and ban all North Korean imports into Japan. Speaking to the press, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura stated that North Korea must demonstrate a willingness to dismantle its nuclear weapons and missile programs and resolve the past abductions of Japanese citizens before Japan will lift the sanctions.
—Reiji Yoshida, "Cabinet Extends North Sanctions," Japan Times, 12 April 2008, in Lexis-Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

18 May 2008
KCNA denounces U.S. plans to export fifty AIM-9X short-range air-to-air missiles to South Korea. The news agency accused the United States of arming South Korea to help U.S. forces invade North Korea.
—KCNA, "North Korean Agency Criticizes U.S. Missile Exports to South," in BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 18 May 2008, in Lexis-Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

30 May 2008
According to Yonhap, a South Korean news agency, North Korea test-fired three short-range missiles into the West Sea. The missiles were believed to be short-range Styx missiles, made from Soviet technology, which have a range of 45 km. Yonhap reported that two of the three missiles misfired during the test. The South Korean Defense Ministry stated that the missile tests were part of routine military exercises.
—Yonhap News Agency, "Two of Three North Korean Short-Range Missiles Said Misfired," in BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 31 May 2008, in Lexis-Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

23 July 2008
Minju Joson, a state-run newspaper in North Korea, condemns Japan for planning to test a Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) missile interceptor in September 2008. The article argues that Japan is trying to aggrandize its missile defense capabilities so that it can preemptively strike other countries and become a leading military power in Asia.
—KCNA, "North Korea Criticizes Japan's Plans to Test-Fire Missile Interceptor," in BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 23 July 2008, in Lexis-Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

8 August 2008
A [U.S.] Congressional Research Service report states that North Korea (in addition to Iran) purchased an unknown number of portable anti-aircraft Stinger missiles when the Soviet-backed Najibullah regime in Afghanistan collapsed in the early 1990s. The United States has failed in its efforts to buy back the 2,000 Stingers it had provided to Afghanistan's mujahideen.
—"US Report Says North Korea Brought Missiles from Afghanistan in 1990s," BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 19 August 2008, in Lexis Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

31 August 2008
North Korea celebrates the tenth anniversary of the launch of its first "self-claimed" rocket, the Taepodong-1, and claims it can do so again at any time. The Taepodong-1, derived from the Soviet Scud missile, is a three-stage intermediate-range missile that can be used as both a nuclear delivery system and a space launch vehicle.
—"Pyongyang Radio Says North Korea Able to Launch Satellites at Any Time," BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 31 August 2008, in Lexis Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

11 September 2008
The Associated Press reports that North Korea has secretly built a second long-range missile base in Pongdong-ni, on the west coast (the first is in Musadan-ni base, on the east coast). In a clear indication of the continuation of its ballistic missile program, North Korea began construction of the facility about eight years ago. As the site is currently capable of conducting tests of long-range missiles, it could be used to launch a missile carrying a warhead. Experts are concerned that launches from the new site would be difficult to detect because of its hidden location among hills near the Chinese border. In spite of a failed 2006 launch of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile, the Taepodong-2, from Musudan-ni, this new site would allow more frequent and extensive testing of the Taepodong-2. The new site would enable North Korea to launch three to four times a year.
—"NK Has 2nd Long-Range Missile Site," Korea Times, 11 September 2008, in Lexis Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com. "North Korea Builds Nuclear Missile Site," The Daily Telegraph, 12 September 2008, in Lexis Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

16 September 2008
North Korea conducts an engine test at its new long-range missile test site in Dongchang-li, North Pyongan province. It is assumed the test is of the Taepodong-2 (6,700km range) missile; during such a test, the rocket engine is laid on its side and ignited to test performance. The test confirms that the new launch site is already partially operational.
—"North Korea Reportedly Conducts 'Engine Ignition Test' for Missile," BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 16 September 2008, in Lexis Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

7 October 2008
North Korea fires two short-range missiles into the Yellow Sea adjoining China as a part of its regular military training. According to the BBC, the launches may have come from Chodo, an island about sixty miles southwest of Pyongyang, in which case the missiles were either KN-01 land-to-sea or Styx ship-to-ship missiles. Another source, JoongAng Ilbo, claims that the missiles were in fact air-to-ship missiles launched from an IL-28 North Korean bomber. The launch is the first since March 2008 when a North Korean ship fired three Styx missiles into the Yellow Sea.
—"North Korea Fires Missiles into Yellow Sea in 'Routine Test'," BBC Monitoring News, 7 October 2008, in Lexis Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com. "North Korea Reportedly Tests Short-Range Missiles," The New York Times, 9 October 2008, in Lexis Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

18 December 2008
Admiral Timothy Keating of the U.S. Pacific Command states that North Korea possesses long-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching both Hawaii and the mainland United States.
—"US Military Says North Korea Possesses Missiles Capable of Reaching USA," BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 19 December 2008, in Lexis Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

12 January 2009
A U.S. Defense Department report states that North Korea has developed both nuclear weapons and missile delivery systems.
—"N.K. Has Nuclear Weapons, Missile Systems," The Korea Herald, 14 January 2009, in Lexis Nexis, web.lexis-nexis.com.

5 February 2009
The United States imposes sanctions on three North Korean companies for their role in spreading missile technology and weapons of mass destruction, without elaborating on the nature of the activities or the laws violated. The Korea Mining and Development Corporation, the Moksong Trading Corporation and the Sino-Ki were added to the United States Federal Register's proliferation blacklist.
—Jin Dae-woong, "3 N. Korea Firms Face Sanctions for Proliferation," The Korea Herald, 5 February 2009 (Lexis-Nexis Academic).

13 February 2009
The Taepodong-2, North Korea's most advanced long-range missile, is being transported to the Musudan-ni launch site on the eastern seaboard. The missiles have not yet been sighted near the launch pad, but a test-firing is believed possible later this month.
—Kwang-Tae Kim, "Report: N. Korea Could Test-Fire Missile this Month," The Associated Press, 13 February 2009 (Lexis-Nexis Academic).

24 February 2009
North Korea announces plans to launch its Kwangmyongsong-2 communications satellite via an Unha-2 (Taepodong-2) delivery rocket from the Musudan-ni launch site in the near future, ostensibly as a development of North Korea's space program. The announcement raised concerns among critics, who believe that the move may be a front for continued missile testing following a failed test of the long-range Taepodong-2 in 2006. Officials from South Korea and the United States have stated that the launch would constitute a violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1695 and 1718.
—Choe Sang-Hun, "Worry of a North Korean Missile Test," The New York Times, 24 February 2009.

13 March 2009
With the North Korean satellite launch approaching, Japan declares its right to "intercept any object if it is falling towards Japan." As the Taepodong-2's spent stages are expected to fall outside of Japanese territory, the right would probably only be exercised in the event of a serious failure. The declaration comes after the U.S. Pacific Command proclaimed its readiness to shoot down the Taepodong-2 if it appeared to be a missile instead of a satellite. North Korea has stated that shooting down the launch vehicle would be an act of war.
—Choe Sang-Hun, "Japan Warns North Korea Over Rocket Lauch," The New York Times, 13 March 2009; Martha Raddatz and Lauren Sher, "U.S. Ready to Respond to N.Korea Missile," ABC News, 26 February 2009.

5 April 2009
The Kwangmyongsong-2 satellite is launched with a three-stage Taepodong-2 delivery vehicle. The satellite passes over Japan without incident, but radar contact is lost over the Pacific Ocean. Following a malfunction, the satellite fails to achieve orbit and splashes down after traveling roughly 3,100 km. Despite the crash, North Korea immediately claims success.
—Jae-soon Chang and Kelly Olsen, "Analysts: Rocket Gives NKorea New Bargaining Chip," Associated Press, 6 April 2009.

29 April 2009
The DPRK's Foreign Ministry states that it will take additional self-defensive measures including nuclear tests and test-firings of ICBMs if the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will not apologize for adopting a nonbinding presidential statement condemning the DPRK's satellite launch as a violation of UNSCR 1718 and 1695 banning all missile activities and demanding not further missile launches.
—"N. Korea Threatens to Conduct Nuclear, Missile Tests," Japan Economic Newswire, 29 April 2009, in Lexis-Nexis, www.lexisnexis.com.

25 May 2009
The DPRK test-fires three short-range surface to air missiles a few hours after conducting its second nuclear test. The missiles of 130km range were launched from the Musudanri missile base in the Southern Hamkyung Province.
—"DPRK Test-Fires Short-Range Missile After Nuclear Test," Xinhua General News Service, 25 May 2009, in Lexis-Nexis, www.lexisnexis.com; "DPRK Test Fires Two More Short-Range Missiles," Xinhua General News Service, 25 May 2009, in Lexis-Nexis, www.lexisnexis.com.

26 May 2009
The DPRK test fires two more short-range missiles, one surface-to-air and one anti-ship missile off its eastern coast. The effects on the regional stability still remain to be seen, however, the Associated Press reports that regional stock markets dropped significantly. Furthermore, Seoul believes that the DPRK is preparing to launch a KN-10 anti-ship cruise missile, which is an improved version of the Silkworm with a range up to 160km, off its west coast.
—"DPRK Plans to Launch Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles," Tass, 26 May 2009, in Lexis-Nexis, www.lexisnexis.com; "North Korea Test-Fires 2 More Missiles," Associated Press, 26 May 2009, in Lexis-Nexis, www.lexisnexis.com; "World Stocks Drop in Wake of NKorea Missile Tests," Associated Press, 26 May 2009, in Lexis-Nexis, www.lexisnexis.com.

2 June 2009
North Korea appears to be preparing to test an intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile appears to be a longer version of the Taepodong-2 rocket launched on April 5, 2009. Satellite images indicate the North Koreans are transporting the missile by train to the newly developed Dongchang-ri facility on the DPRK west coast, 35km south of China. An estimated launch date is still unclear.
—Eric Talmadge, "North Korea Readies Long-range Missile Test," Associated Press World Stream, June 2, 2009, in Lexis Nexis, www.lexis-nexis.com; "Roundup: Report: North Korea Assembling Missile at Launch Site," Deutsche Presse-Agentur, June 3, 2009, in Lexis Nexis, www.lexis-nexis.com.

12 June 2009
The UN Security Council passed resolution reprimanding North Korea for the May 25 nuclear and May 26 missile tests. The resolution imposes new sanctions, expands arms embargos, and authorizes ship searches on the high seas. The resolution aims to deprive North Korea of the means for financing its nuclear and missile programs, and bans DPRK arms exports, especially missiles. The resolution calls on countries to refrain from providing financial support to industries that could contribute to North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
—Edith M. Lederer, "UN Imposes Tough New Sanctions on North Korea," Associated Press, June 12, 2009, in Lexis Nexis, www.lexis-nexis.com.

16 June 2009
According to media reports, the Dongchang-ri long range missile launch pad on the northwest coast has been completed. The new launch pad is 50 meters high and capable of launching intercontinental ballistic missile measuring 40 meter or longer. Previous ICBM launches were conducted at the Musudan-ri launch pad and only tested missile measuring 32 meters. However, a missile launch did not imminent. No missiles have been brought to the launch pad and radar has not been set up.
—"North Korea Readies New Missile Launch Pad: newspaper," Agence France Presse, June 16, 2009, in Lexis Nexis, www.lexis-nexis.com.

17 June 2009
North Korea may have transported another long range ballistic missile to the Musudan-ri launch sight on the DPRK east coast. U.S. and ROK official are considering if DPRK will launch two long range ballistic missiles from the both launch sites, or if this is an elaborate diversion to mislead watchers. DPRK is believed to posses three to four ICBM, and may be stockpiling additional missiles in the research center in Sanumdong.
—"N.Korea Missile Possibly At Launch Site in Musudan-ri: Report," Japan Economic Newswire, June 17, 2009, in Lexis Nexis, www.lexis-nexis.com.

	Updated July 2009