Chronologies
US - Korea
Chronology from Sep 2020 to Dec 2020
: Data shows six countries—Russia, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, and Bulgaria—have provided nearly $10 million in food aid this year to help North Korea respond to chronic food shortages.
: US Air Force reconnaissance plane flies over Korea as North Korea appears to prepare a military parade.
: North Korea’s trade with China slumps to just $2,382 in November due to Pyongyang’s measures to stop the entry of the coronavirus into the country.
: ROK Defense Ministry discusses with related authorities whether ROK Army troops assigned to USFK can get the COVID-19 vaccine shipped for US soldiers in South Korea.
: Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines for USFK arrive in South Korea.
: US State Department expresses strong support for South Korea to defend its air space after Chinese and Russian military aircrafts entered the KADIZ.
: USFK will be the first group in South Korea to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. It will start administering the Moderna vaccine against coronavirus to frontline health workers and first responders.
: Presidential Secretary Noh Kyu-duk is named Seoul’s new top nuclear envoy.
: North Korea says it will expand its Mount Kumgang tourist complex in “our way,” despite hopes of revived inter-Korean cooperation there.
: United Nations Command (UNC) suspends tours to truce village of Panmunjom due to the coronavirus pandemic.
: USFK Commander Gen. Robert Abrams calls for “immediate and aggressive” antivirus measures.
: Trump says he will veto US defense bill, which includes limits on the president’s ability to withdraw troops from countries including South Korea.
: North Korea starts regular winter-time drills, showing no signs of unusual movements.
: Biegun reaffirms the US commitment to complete denuclearization of North Korea.
: Kim Yo Jong, sister of the North Korean leader, slams the ROK foreign minister for “reckless remarks” on Pyongyang’s coronavirus handling.
: Biegun calls on North Korea to return to dialogue for complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
: Treasury Department announces new sanctions on six entities and four vessels related to North Korea.
: Biegun arrives in South Korea for talks with South Korean officials, including the foreign minister and the minister of unification, regarding bilateral alliance and stalled nuclear negotiations with North Korea.
: ROK Minister of Unification Lee promises aid organization activists to send humanitarian assistance to North Korea.
: Head of US Army Pacific, Gen. Paul LaCamera, is nominated to be next commander of US Forces Korea (USFK).
: Six US soldiers and two other civilians in South Korea test positive for coronavirus.
: North Korean hackers have attempted to hack at least six pharmaceutical companies developing COVID-19 vaccines in the US, the UK, and South Korea.
: Department of State accuses China of “flagrant violation” of its obligation to enforce international sanctions on North Korea, saying the US would offer rewards up to $5 million for information about sanctions evasions.
: US expert says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family have been vaccinated for the coronavirus with a vaccine provided by China.
: North Korea reinforces border lockdown to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from spreading into its country.
: North Korean hackers are suspected of trying to break into the systems of British drug company AstraZeneca in recent weeks.
: Former Commander of US Forces Korea (USFK) Burwell Bell warns South Korea may lose allies if the country arms itself with nuclear weapons.
: China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and Kang hold talks in Seoul, discussing North Korea’s nuclear program and preparing a visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
: Kim Chong-in, leader of South Korea’s main opposition People Power Party (PPP), says South Korea may need to consider acquiring nuclear weapons if North Korea does not give up nuclear weapons.
: US State Department offers up to $3 million in funding for organizations working for North Korean human rights.
: Unification Minister Lee stresses that a breakthrough in South-North Korean ties could come “sooner than expected.”
: South Korea agrees to boost cooperation with US Air Force to respond better to emerging space threats.
: North Korea accuses the UN Security Council for labeling the country’s space program as threats, calling the agency an “undemocratic organ devoid of impartiality.”
: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suspects North Korea of producing enriched uranium at the Kangson facility.
: Department of Treasury adds two North Korean enterprises that operate in Russia to sanctions list on North Korea for alleged involvement in the exportation of “forced labor.”
: Unification Minister Lee says South Korea will formally offer talks with North Korea when the coronavirus wanes.
: US Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville meets South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook to discuss ways to strengthen and expand cooperation.
: Ambassador Harris congratulates four Korean-Americans on their election to the House of Representatives.
: Three members of ruling Democratic Party of South Korea leave for Washington for meetings with US congressional leaders and experts on the Korean Peninsula issues.
: Chairman of the Democratic Party of South Korea Lee Nak-yon calls on Biden to keep the deal signed between North Korean leader Kim and President Trump in 2018.
: Moon and Biden reaffirm commitment to their alliance and to work together closely on the North Korean nuclear issues in a phone call.
: Foreign Minister Kang reaffirms efforts to continue ensuring peace on the Korean Peninsula after Biden’s election.
: ROK Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa visits Washington for talks with Pompeo.
: President Moon congratulates Joe Biden on his election victory.
: South Korean national security chief Suh urges US government to resume talks with the North Korean regime.
: Unification Minister Lee In-young urges North Korea to restore cross-border communication lines between the two Koreas.
: ROK troops take into custody a North Korean man who crossed the border.
: North Korea argues that the South is plotting to bring in additional U.S. missile defense system in the country, saying that it would lead to “self-destruction.”
: North Korea imposes requirements on foreigners to fight against coronavirus.
: A UN panel says the al-Shabab Islamic extremist group used a North Korean mortar in a terrorist attack in Somalia earlier this year.
: North Korea says South Korea is responsible for the death of a fisheries official killed at sea last month, although they reiterate regret over the killing.
: US Ambassador Harry Harris becomes honorary citizen of Seoul in recognition of his efforts to expand exchanges between the city and the United States.
: US government issues a warning on a North Korean hacking group before the US presidential election.
: Moon’s special security adviser, Moon Chung-in, says signing a declaration to end the Korean War is the first step toward the denuclearization.
: Biden says that North Korea possesses a great number of missiles because of Trump.
: North Korea warns citizens to stay inside over fears that yellow dust from China could bring coronavirus.
: Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden says he could meet Kim Jong Un if North Korea reduces the country’s nuclear capabilities.
: North Korea appears to have suspended gymnastic shows scheduled for this month.
: South Korean Unification Minister Lee In-young says South Korea will keep seeking dialogue with North Korea for cooperation in railway linking.
: South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook and Adm. Phil Davidson, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, discuss denuclearization of North Korea.
: Civilian tours of Panmunjom will reopen early next month after a year of suspension caused by the African swine fever, the Unification Ministry says.
: U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien sees a chance to resume denuclearization talks with North Korea around next summer Olympic games.
: South Korean National Security Adviser Suh Hoon says Seoul and Washington are on the same page over the initiative to declare the end of the Korean War.
: UN condemns North Korea’s unlawful killing of a South Korean government official in waters.
: Defense Secretary Mark Esper says North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs pose a global threat, after seeing North Korea’s new weapons at military parade.
: Kim Jong Un inspects a mining area in South Hamgyong province, which was recently hit by flooding and typhoons.
: South Korean government holds emergency National Security Council meeting after North Korea unveils a massive intercontinental ballistic missile.
: South Korea grants permission to private organizations to send $1.24 million in private aid to North Korea.
: North Korea’s acting ambassador to Italy, who went missing in late 2018, reveals he lives in South Korea under government protection since last year.
: South Korea’s Unification Ministry calls on North Korea to respond to South Korea’s request for a joint investigation over the killing of a South Korean official.
: South Korean and US intelligence have spotted North Korea moving an intercontinental ballistic missile.
: Pompeo cancels a planned visit to South Korea.
: Kim Jong Un sends a letter to President Trump, expressing his hopes that he would recover from the coronavirus.
: Kim Jong Un inspects a flooded village damaged by recent typhoons.
: North Korea’s UN ambassador says North Korea has a “reliable and effective war deterrent for self-defense.”
: South Korean Coast Guard says that the South Korean official killed by the North Korean Navy sought defection to the North.
: Biegun says the US and South Korea discussed how to move the stagnated dialogues with the North.
: ROK President Moon apologizes to the South Korean public and the family of the official killed by North Korean troops.
: North Korea accuses South Korea of sending ships into its territory to find the body of the dead South Korean official.
: State Department says North Korea’s apology over killing of a South Korean official is a “helpful step.”
: State Department condemns North Korea’s killing of a South Korean official and demands an explanation.
: South Korean President Moon Jae-In calls for declaring an end to the Korean War at 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
: Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette says the US “remains committed to addressing the threats posed by the nuclear programs of both North Korea and Iran” at IAEA.
: US announces new sanctions on Iranian entities and individuals, saying Tehran and North Korea have resumed cooperation on long-range missile development.
: North Korean defector is arrested trying to cross back into the DPRK.
: USS Pueblo intelligence ship veterans file a lawsuit against North Korea, demanding compensation of up to $6 billion.
: Assistant Secretary of State for East Pacific and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell says that the US is not discussing the possibility of withdrawing troops from South Korea.
: South Korean Minister of Unification Lee In-young visits Panmunjom, urging North Korea to implement agreements reached during the 2018 inter-Korea summit.
: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tells the Atlantic Council that US talks with North Korea remain ongoing.
: Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun expresses Washington’s support for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula at a regional security meeting.
: Kim inspects recovery work in a flood-hit area, according to North Korea state media.
: US and South Korea agrees to launch a new working-level dialogue channel to discuss alliance matters.
: US Army chief Gen. James McConville says he doesn’t see full-scale ROK-US drills amid the coronavirus pandemic.
: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un calls for an urgent recovery from typhoon damage.
: UN chief urges North Korea to resume denuclearization talks with the US and the South.
: North Korea sends only low or mid-level diplomats to UN General Assembly meetings this year.
: Satellite imagery suggests North Korea’s preparation for a submarine-launched ballistic missile at the South Sinpo shipyard.
: Senior adviser Jared Kushner says President Trump will reach a breakthrough with North Korea if he is reelected.
: Documents reveal that North Korea is seeking millions of dollars in medical supplies for an upcoming Pyongyang general hospital project.