Chronologies
US - Korea
Chronology from May 2019 to Aug 2019
: ROK Vice Foreign Minister Cho cautions Ambassador Harris on US statements criticizing South Korea’s decision to withdraw from its intelligence-sharing pact with Japan.
: Secretary Pompeo says in an American Legion speech that “we recognized that North Korea’s rogue behavior could not be ignored.”
: US says the ROK decision to withdraw from intelligence-sharing pact endangers US troops.
: North Korea launches its seventh projectile test since July 25. Korean Central News Agency reports the successful test of a “super-large multiple rocket launcher.”
: South Korea scraps intelligence-sharing pact with Japan. North Korea Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho describes Secretary Pompeo as a “diehard toxin” and “impudent” and says North Korea is ready for dialogue or a standoff.
: North Korea describes a US mid-range cruise missile test and plans to deploy F-35 jets to South Korea as “dangerous” and possibly “triggering a new cold war.”
: KCNA reports Kim Jong Un oversaw the latest firing of missiles.
: North Korea test-fires two short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, “the sixth launch of projectiles by the country since July 25.”
: North Korea says any deployment of US intermediate-range missiles in the ROK would be a “reckless act.”
: Trump says Kim is open to more talks following US-ROK exercises.
: North Korea launches “the fifth round of launches by Pyongyang in just over two week,” sending two short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan.
: Lee Soo-hyuk is named new ROK ambassador to the US. Defense Secretary Mark Esper meets ROK leaders amid Korea-Japan dispute and burden sharing debate. Trump notes a letter from Kim Jong Un complaining of military exercises.
: Trump tweets that “talks have begun” on US-ROK defense burden-sharing.
: UN Sanctions Committee on North Korea releases a report showing DPRK-directed cyberattacks have raised to date $2 billion in funds to support its WMD programs.
: Secretary Pompeo expresses hope that talks will resume within weeks.
: National Security Adviser Bolton reminds Kim of his missile pledge following the DPRK warning that it may pursue a “new road.”
: South Korea’s military reports that two “short-range ballistic missiles” were launched by North Korea into the Sea of Japan.
: US and South Korea hold joint-military exercises Dong Maeng 19-2, a “scaled-back combined command post exercise” that is executed primarily through computer simulations.
: Trump plays down the series of short-range missile launches. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri skips the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting.
: DPRK launches short-range missiles.
: North Korea launches two missiles from the Wonsan area. ROK Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo says the missiles, which flew 250 km and reached a height of 30 km.
: DPRK launches two short-range missiles, traveling 690 km and 430 km, and describe its missile launches as a warning to ROK “warmongers.” Pompeo says he expects working-level talks with North Korea within weeks.
: National Security Adviser Bolton meets ROK officials to discuss North Korea and the alliance.
: Kim Jong Un inspects a newly built submarine with enhanced tactical abilities and weapons systems.
: Secretary Pompeo rejects North Korean charges that US-ROK exercises breach any Trump-Kim agreement.
: Assistant Secretary of State Stilwell visits Seoul as the Korea-Japan dispute worsens. Trump bemoans the request by the two US allies to “get involved.”
: Secretary Pompeo expresses hope that the US and North Korea can be “more creative” in nuclear talks. DPRK says nuclear talks are at risk if US-ROK exercises take place.
: Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell states that the US won’t seek to mediate the South Korea-Japan dispute, encouraging both to focus on key regional issues, including North Korea.
: ROK Foreign Minister Kang tells Secretary of State Pompeo that Japan’s export curbs are “undesirable.”
: DPRK’s Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui states that a Trump-Kim meeting at the DMZ “would serve as another meaningful occasion in further deepening the personal relations between the two leaders and advancing bilateral relations.”
: US Special Representative for North Korea Biegun meets South Korea’s Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon in Seoul ahead of President Trump’s visit to discuss resuming talks with Pyongyang.
: President Moon Jae-in says the US and DPRK are in talks over a third summit.
: US DIA Director Lt. Gen. Ashley states that the intelligence community assesses that Kim Jong Un “is not ready to denuclearize.”
: Kim Jong Un receives letter from Trump with “excellent content.”
: Kim Jong Un, alongside Chinese President Xi, calls for a US response to stalled nuclear talks.
: South Korea’s Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon meets US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun in Washington DC to discuss ways to facilitate the resumption of US-North Korea dialogue.
: US submits report to the UN Security Council’s North Korea Sanctions Committee blaming North Korea for breaching a UN-imposed cap on fuel imports through illicit ship-to-ship transfers.
: National Security Adviser John Bolton suggests a third summit is possible and up to Kim Jong Un. Trump publicly opposes using CIA informants against Kim, and says he received a “beautiful letter” from Kim.
: DPRK marks the one-year anniversary of the Singapore talks with a call for the US to change its “hostile policy.”
: US Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris urges South Korean companies to avoid using Huawei equipment.
: Reports indicate diplomat Kim Hyok Chol is in detention and under investigation, but was not executed by firing squad as earlier reported.
: DPRK lead envoy Kim Yong Chol is seen with Kim Jong Un, despite reports of his demise.
: Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan suggests it is not necessary to resume major joint exercises with South Korea, allowing room for diplomacy with the North.
: DPRK warns that talks with the US will not resume without a “new calculation.”
: DPRK suggests “biggest issue” in relations with the US is the impounded ship.
: DPRK demands the return of the seized tanker Wise Honest.
: The 11th round of US, Japan, South Korea Defense Trilateral Talks (DTT) is held in Seoul to discuss regional security issues.
: US seizes the Wise Honest, North Korea’s second largest cargo ship accused of violating international sanctions by transporting coal and heavy machinery back to North Korea.
: DPRK conducts second missile test of the month from a tracked vehicle.
: Pentagon suspends efforts to recover POW/MIA remains as DPRK talks stall.
: US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun visits Tokyo and Seoul to meet South Korean and Japanese officials.
: North Korea tests new missile similar to Russia’s SS-26 Iskander from a mobile transporter erector launcher.