North Korea Recent Incidents

1968 January

North Korea captures the USS Pueblo, an unarmed U.S. Navy intelligence vessel, in international waters. North Koreans held the 83-man crew hostage for 11 torturous months and maintains possession of the ship to this day.

1969 April

North Korean Mig-21 fighters shoot down a U.S. Navy EC-121 reconnaissance aircraft over the Sea of Japan as it flew a regular surveillance mission in international airspace. All 31 sailors perished.

2006 July

North Korea test fires seven missiles including a long-range Taepodong-2 missile, which crashes shortly after take-off despite it reportedly having the capability to hit the US.

2006 October

North Korea conducts its first nuclear weapons test at an underground facility. The UN imposes economic and commercial sanctions on North Korea.

2009 April

North Korea launches a long-range rocket, carrying what it says is a communications satellite; its neighbors accuse it of testing long-range missile technology. Condemnation from the UN Security Council prompts North Korea to walk out of six-party talks and restart its nuclear facilities.

2009 May

North Korea carries out its second underground nuclear test. UN Security Council condemns move in June.

2012 October

North Korea claims it has missiles than can hit the US mainland after South Korea and Washington announce a deal to extend the range of South Korea's ballistic missiles.

2013 February

UN approves fresh sanctions after North Korea stages its third nuclear test, said to be more powerful than the 2009 test.

2014 March

North Korea test-fires two medium-range Rodong ballistic missiles for the first time since 2009, in violation of UN resolutions.

2017 July

Pyongyang test fires a long-range missile into the Sea of Japan, with some experts stating the missile could potentially reach Alaska.

2022

A total of 69 launches from 13 different types of missiles were executed in 2022 , surpassing a previous high of 26 total launches in 2019.