History of North Korea in Timeline

North Korea, or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), occupies the northern portion of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. It shares borders with China and Russia to the north and South Korea to the south, separated by the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Pyongyang is its capital and largest city. Until 2024, North Korea claimed to be the sole legitimate government of the entire Korean Peninsula. However, it has since abandoned the unification plan and designated South Korea as a hostile nation.

1905: Korea Becomes Japanese Protectorate

In 1905, Japan compelled Korea to become its protectorate, marking a significant step towards full annexation.

1910: Formal Annexation by Japan

In 1910, Japan formally annexed Korea, initiating a period of direct Japanese rule.

1910: Annexation by Empire of Japan

In 1910, the Korean Empire was annexed by the Empire of Japan.

1910: Start of cultural assimilation policy

In 1910, the start of the Japanese rule marked the beginning of a cultural assimilation policy where Koreans were forced to learn and speak Japanese and adopt Japanese customs.

1919: March First Movement Protests

In 1919, the March First Movement protests occurred as a response to the suppression of Korean culture and language under Japanese rule.

October 1945: Establishment of Soviet Civil Administration

In October 1945, Soviet general Terentii Shtykov recommended the establishment of the Soviet Civil Administration in the northern part of the divided Korean peninsula.

1945: Division of Korean Peninsula

After the division of the Korean peninsula in 1945, two distinct cultures formed out of the common Korean heritage, with North Koreans having little exposure to foreign influence.

1945: End of Cultural Assimilation policy

In 1945, at the end of Japanese rule, the cultural assimilation policy that forced Koreans to learn Japanese and adopt Japanese customs, ended.

1945: End of Japanese Rule

In 1945, with the end of World War II, Korea was liberated from Japanese rule.

February 1946: Kim Il Sung Appointed Chairman

In February 1946, Kim Il Sung was supported as chairman of the Provisional People's Committee of North Korea.

September 1946: South Korean Citizens Rise Up

In September 1946, South Korean citizens rose up against the Allied Military Government.

April 1948: Jeju Islanders Uprising

In April 1948, an uprising of the Jeju islanders was violently crushed.

May 1948: South Korea Declares Statehood

In May 1948, South Korea declared its statehood.

July 1948: Establishment of the DPRK

On 10 July 1948, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established in the North.

1948: Adoption of Official Name

In 1948, North Korea adopted Democratic People's Republic of Korea as its official name.

1948: Soviet Forces Withdraw

In 1948, Soviet forces withdrew from North Korea, marking a significant change in the region's geopolitical landscape.

1948: Formation of Separate Governments

In 1948, separate governments were formed in Korea: the socialist Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north, and the capitalist Republic of Korea in the south.

1949: US Forces Withdraw

In 1949, most American forces withdrew from South Korea, setting the stage for future conflict on the Korean peninsula.

June 1950: North Korean Invasion of the South

On 25 June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, swiftly overrunning most of the country and initiating the Korean War.

1950: Start of the Korean War

In 1950, the North Korean invasion of South Korea initiated the Korean War, a conflict that would last for three years.

1950: Highest Status in Songbun System

In 1950, the highest status in North Korea's Songbun system was accorded to those who fought with Kim Il Sung in the resistance against Japanese occupation and to factory workers, laborers, or peasants.

July 1953: Korean Armistice Agreement Signed

On 27 July 1953, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed, approximately restoring the original boundaries between North and South Korea, but without a peace treaty.

1953: Korean Armistice Agreement

In 1953, the Korean Armistice Agreement brought about a ceasefire and established a demilitarized zone (DMZ), but no formal peace treaty was signed, officially ending the Korean War.

1955: Pronouncement of Juche

In 1955, Juche was pronounced in a speech called On Eliminating Dogmatism and Formalism and Establishing Juche in Ideological Work in order to emphasize a Korea-centered revolution. Its core tenets are economic self-sufficiency, military self-reliance and an independent foreign policy.

1956: August Faction Incident

During the 1956 August Faction Incident, Kim Il Sung successfully resisted efforts by the Soviet Union and China to depose him.

1957: Industrial Production Returns to Pre-War Levels

In 1957, industrial production in North Korea returned to pre-war levels after the devastation of the Korean War.

October 1958: Withdrawal of Chinese Troops

In October 1958, the final withdrawal of Chinese troops from North Korea marked a key point in North Korea's path to effective independence.

1958: Kim Il Sung defines Songbun Class structure

In 1958, Kim Il Sung stated that the loyal "core class" constituted 25% of the North Korean population, the "wavering class" 55%, and the "hostile class" 20%.

1959: Establishment of Mansudae Art Studio

In 1959, Mansudae Art Studio was established and came to dominate most aspects of art in North Korea.

1959: Repatriation of Japanese Citizens

In 1959, relations with Japan improved, and North Korea began allowing the repatriation of Japanese citizens in the country.

1960: Shift in Economic Development Stage

Around 1960, systematic inefficiency began to arise when the economy shifted from the extensive to the intensive development stage.

1964: North Korea's first appearance in the Olympics

North Korea made its first appearance in the Olympics in 1964.

1966: North Korea beats Italy at the FIFA World Cup

In 1966, the North Korean national football team won 1-0 against Italy in the FIFA World Cup.

1968: Failed Assassination Attempt on South Korean Leaders

In 1968, North Korea failed in an assassination attempt on South Korean leaders.

1971: Premiere of Sea of Blood

In 1971, Sea of Blood, the most widely performed of the Five Great Revolutionary Operas, premiered in North Korea.

1971: Secret High-Level Contacts Begin

In 1971, secret, high-level contacts began between North and South Korea, which started a dialogue between the two countries.

1972: Introduction of Juche into the Constitution

In 1972, Juche was introduced into the constitution of North Korea.

1972: North Korea's Summer Olympics debut

In 1972, North Korea made its Summer Olympics debut, winning five medals including one gold.

1972: Two Koreas Agree on Peaceful Reunification

In 1972, North and South Korea agreed in principle to achieve reunification through peaceful means and without foreign interference.

1972: July 4 South-North Joint Statement

In 1972, the July 4 South–North Joint Statement established principles for working toward peaceful reunification.

1973: South Korea Seeks Separate UN Memberships

In 1973, South Korea declared its preference for separate memberships in international organizations, leading to the failure of reunification talks.

1973: Separation of the Ministry of State Security

In 1973, the state security ministry was separated from the social security ministry to conduct domestic and foreign intelligence, counterintelligence and manage the political prison system.

1974: Failed Assassination Attempt on South Korean Leaders

In 1974, North Korea failed in another assassination attempt on South Korean leaders.

1974: Abolishment of Taxes

In 1974, the payment of taxes was officially abolished in North Korea.

1976: Axe Murder Incident at Panmunjom

In 1976, tensions flared over the axe murder incident at Panmunjom.

1976: GDP per capita equal to South Korea

Until the 1960s, economic growth was higher than in South Korea, and North Korean GDP per capita was equal to that of its southern neighbor as late as 1976.

1978: Russian and English made compulsory in schools

In 1978, the study of Russian and English was made compulsory in upper middle schools in North Korea.

October 1980: Kim Il Sung Proposes Federation between North and South Korea

On October 10, 1980, Kim Il Sung proposed a federation between North and South Korea, in which the respective political systems would initially remain.

1983: Rangoon Bombing

In 1983, North Korea was responsible for the Rangoon bombing, an assassination attempt on South Korean leaders.

1987: Economy Begins to Stagnate

By the 1980s, North Korea's economy had begun to stagnate; it started its long decline in 1987.

December 1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union

In December 1991, the Soviet Union was dissolved, ending its aid and support to North Korea.

1991: UN Membership

In 1991, North Korea became a member of the United Nations.

1991: North Korea Joins the United Nations

In 1991, North Korea joined the United Nations along with South Korea.

1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union

In 1991, the dissolution of the Soviet Union caused Soviet aid to North Korea to halt, almost completely collapsing the economy.

1992: Kim Jong Il Takes Over State Tasks

In 1992, as Kim Il Sung's health deteriorated, his son Kim Jong Il slowly began taking over various state tasks.

1992: Omission of Marxism-Leninism from the Constitution

In 1992, references to Marxism-Leninism were omitted from the constitution of North Korea.

December 1993: Unsuccessful Seven-Year Plan

In December 1993, North Korea declared the last seven-year plan unsuccessful and thereafter stopped announcing plans.

1994: Death of Kim Il Sung

In 1994, Kim Il Sung died of a heart attack, marking a significant transition in North Korean leadership.

1994: Kim Jong Il Succeeds Kim Il Sung

In 1994, Kim Jong Il succeeded his father, Kim Il Sung, as the leader of North Korea.

1994: North Korean Famine Begins

In 1994, North Korea began to suffer a famine, with widespread malnutrition affecting the population.

1994: Agreed Framework Signed

In 1994, North Korea promised to halt its development of nuclear weapons under the Agreed Framework.

1995: Start of North Korean Famine

The North Korean famine began in 1995, lasted for three years, and resulted in the deaths of between 240,000 and 420,000 North Koreans.

1996: North Korea Accepts UN Food Aid

In 1996, the government of North Korea accepted UN food aid due to the ongoing famine crisis.

1997: US led food shipments to North Korea

In 1997, international donors led by the United States started food shipments through the World Food Program in an effort to fight the famine in North Korea.

1998: Institution of the Sunshine Policy

In 1998, South Korean president Kim Dae-jung instituted the Sunshine Policy, marking a watershed in inter-Korean relations.

1998: End of North Korean Famine

In 1998, the North Korean famine ended, although the population continued to suffer from malnutrition.

1998: Structural Reforms

In 1998, the government began structural reforms that formally legalized private ownership of assets and decentralized control over production, in an attempt to recover from economic collapse.

1998: Malnutrition rate decline

In 1998, the number of malnourished children in North Korea declined to 60% due to the aid programs initiated to combat the famine.

2000: Improvement in Food Situation

By 2000, the situation in North Korea improved owing to a massive international food assistance effort, but the economy continued to suffer from food shortages, dilapidated infrastructure and a critically low energy supply.

2000: Population Estimate

Demographic experts in the 20th century estimated that the population would grow to 25.5 million by 2000, but this increase never occurred due to the North Korean famine.

2000: Inter-Korean summit

Following the 2000 inter-Korean summit, there was a decline in direct ideological messages in pop songs in North Korea.

2001: George W. Bush Becomes U.S. President

In 2001, the international environment changed once George W. Bush became U.S. President, with his administration rejecting South Korea's Sunshine Policy and the Agreed Framework.

2002: Increase in Cellular Subscribers

From 2002 to 2013, the number of cellular subscribers in North Korea has increased from 3,000 to almost two million.

2002: Second Round of Reforms

In 2002, a second round of reforms led to an expansion of market activities, partial monetization, flexible prices and salaries, and the introduction of incentives and accountability techniques.

2002: Population growth rate declines

In 2002, the famine had a significant impact on the population growth rate in North Korea, causing it to decline to 0.9% annually.

2002: Bush's Axis of Evil

In his 2002 State of the Union Address, U.S. President George W. Bush included North Korea in his "axis of evil."

2003: Access to water and sanitation

According to a 2003 report, almost 100% of the population had access to water and sanitation in North Korea.

2003: United Nations Environmental Programme Report

According to a United Nations Environmental Programme report in 2003, forests covered over 70 percent of North Korea, mostly on steep slopes.

July 2004: Goguryeo tombs registered as UNESCO World Heritage Site

In July 2004, The Goguryeo tombs were registered on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, marking the first World Heritage property of North Korea.

2004: South Korean Assessment of Chemical and Biological Weapons

According to a 2004 South Korean assessment, North Korea possesses a stockpile of chemical weapons and the ability to cultivate and produce biological weapons.

2004: U.S. State Department Estimate on Military Spending

The U.S. State Department estimated that North Korea's military spending averaged 23% of its GDP from 2004 to 2014, the highest level in the world.

October 2006: First Nuclear Weapons Test

On 9 October 2006, North Korea announced that it had conducted its first nuclear weapons test.

October 2007: Peace Agreement Signed

On October 4, 2007, South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Jong Il signed an eight-point peace agreement.

2007: Lower respiratory infection decline

Since 2007, lower respiratory infection, a leading cause of overall deaths in North Korea, declined by six percent.

2008: Child mortality estimated at 45 per 1,000

In 2008, child mortality in North Korea was estimated to be 45 per 1,000, a much lower rate than other economically comparable countries.

2008: Literacy rate listed as 100% in North Korea

The 2008 census listed the entire population of North Korea as literate.

2009: Joined Outer Space Treaty

In 2009, North Korea joined the Outer Space Treaty and has stated its intentions to undertake crewed and Moon missions.

2009: North Korea Ends Agreements with South Korea

In 2009, North Korea responded to South Korea's hard-line approach by ending all of its previous agreements with the South.

2009: Attempt to stem expanding free market

In 2009, the North Korean government attempted to stem the expanding free market by banning jangmadang and the use of foreign currency, heavily devaluing the won and restricting the convertibility of savings in the old currency. The resulting inflation spike and rare public protests caused a reversal of these policies.

2009: Constitution Drops References to Communism

The 2009 constitution of North Korea dropped references to communism and elevated the Songun military first policy while explicitly confirming the position of Kim Jong Il.

2010: Military Expenditure

According to North Korean state media, in 2010, military expenditure amounted to 15.8 percent of the state budget.

2010: Population Estimate

Demographic experts in the 20th century estimated that the population would grow to 28 million by 2010, but this increase never occurred due to the North Korean famine.

2010: North Korea at the FIFA World Cup

In 2010, the North Korean national football team, Chollima, competed in the FIFA World Cup, losing all three matches.

2010: Sea of Blood tour in China

In 2010, the Sea of Blood opera toured China, becoming a major success.

2010: Tensions Increase with South Korea

Tensions with South Korea and the United States increased in 2010 with the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan and North Korea's bombardment of Yeonpyeongdo.

December 2011: Death of Kim Jong Il

On 17 December 2011, Kim Jong Il died from a heart attack, leading to his son Kim Jong Un becoming his successor.

2011: Kim Jong Un Succeeds Kim Jong Il

In 2011, Kim Jong Un succeeded his father, Kim Jong Il, as the leader of North Korea.

December 2012: Launch of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2

In December 2012, North Korea became the tenth spacefaring nation with the launch of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2, which successfully reached orbit but was believed to be crippled and non-operational.

2012: Kim Un-guk breaks world record

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, North Korean weightlifter Kim Un-guk broke the world record in the Men's 62 kg category.

2012: Associated Press opens bureau in Pyongyang

In 2012, The Associated Press opened the first Western all-format, full-time bureau in Pyongyang.

April 2013: National Aerospace Technology Administration

Until April 2013, the national space program was managed by the Korean Committee of Space Technology before it was succeeded by the National Aerospace Technology Administration.

December 2013: Dennis Rodman visits North Korea

In December 2013, former American basketball professional Dennis Rodman visited North Korea to help train the national team.

2013: Malnutrition further declines, food production recovers.

By 2013, the number of malnourished children in North Korea had further declined to 28%. Domestic food production almost reached the recommended annual level of 5.37 million tons of cereal equivalent in 2013.

2013: Increase in Cellular Subscribers

From 2002 to 2013, the number of cellular subscribers in North Korea has increased from 3,000 to almost two million.

2013: Cardiovascular disease reported as the largest cause of death in North Korea

In 2013, cardiovascular disease was reported as the largest single cause of death in North Korea, along with stroke, COPD and ischaemic heart disease.

2013: High-Speed Railway Construction Approved

In 2013, construction of a high-speed railway connecting Kaesong, Pyongyang and Sinuiju with speeds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour (120 mph) was approved.

2013: Structure of North Korea's causes of death

In 2013, the structure of North Korea's causes of death resembled worldwide averages, with non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancers accounting for the majority of deaths.

2014: UN Inquiry into Human Rights Record

In 2014, a UN inquiry into North Korea's human rights record found evidence for systematic, widespread, and gross human rights violations, stating that the gravity, scale, and nature of these violations reveal a state that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world.

2014: Moranbong Band popular group

In 2014, the all-girl Moranbong Band was described as the most popular group in North Korea.

2014: North Korea's response to UN report on human rights

In a 2014 report to the UN, North Korea dismissed accusations of atrocities as wild rumors. The government admitted some human rights issues related to living conditions and stated that it is working to improve them.

2014: U.S. State Department Estimate on Military Spending

The U.S. State Department estimated that North Korea's military spending averaged 23% of its GDP from 2004 to 2014, the highest level in the world.

2015: North Korea's Diplomatic Relations

As of 2015, North Korea had diplomatic relations with 166 countries and embassies in 47 countries.

2015: Access to improved sanitation facilities

By 2015, 80% of the population in North Korea had access to improved sanitation facilities.

2015: Cyberwarfare Unit Employment

In 2015, North Korea was reported to employ 6,000 sophisticated computer security personnel in a cyberwarfare unit operating out of China.

February 2016: Successful Orbit of Kwangmyongsong-4

On February 7, 2016, North Korea announced that a near Earth observation satellite, Kwangmyongsong-4, had successfully been put into orbit.

2016: 84% of total deaths in North Korea attributed to non-communicable diseases

In 2016, 84% of total deaths in North Korea were attributed to non-communicable diseases.

2016: Kim Jong Un Appointed SAC President

In 2016, Kim Jong Un became the SAC president.

May 2017: Election of Moon Jae-in

In May 2017, Moon Jae-in was elected president of South Korea with a promise to return to the Sunshine Policy.

2017: Strained Relations with Malaysia

In 2017, relations between North Korea and Malaysia were strained by the assassination of Kim Jong-nam.

2017: Worsened Relations Between the United States and North Korea

Throughout 2017, relations between the United States and North Korea worsened, and there was a period of heightened tension between the two countries following Donald Trump's ascension to the US presidency.

February 2018: Détente at the Winter Olympics

In February 2018, a détente developed at the Winter Olympics held in South Korea.

2018: Global Slavery Index Ranking

According to the Walk Free's 2018 Global Slavery Index, North Korea is ranked highest in the world in terms of the percentage of population in modern slavery, with 10.4 percent enslaved, equating to 1,100,000 people.

2018: Détente Developed

In 2018, tensions decreased between North Korea, South Korea, and the United States, and a détente developed with a series of summits taking place.

2019: Life expectancy in North Korea

According to HDR 2020, the life expectancy in North Korea in 2019 was 72.3 years.

2019: Kim Jong Un re-elected as SAC President

At the 1st Session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly in 2019, Kim Jong Un was re-elected as "the supreme representative of all the Korean people and supreme leader of the country" and SAC president. A constitutional amendment conferred authority to promulgate laws.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Ranking

In 2019, North Korea had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 8.02/10, ranking it 28th globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Choe Ryong-hae Heads the Standing Committee

Since 2019, Choe Ryong-hae has headed the Standing Committee as chairman, and is the second-ranked official in North Korea.

2020: HDR 2020 reports North Korea life expectancy at 72.3 years

According to HDR 2020, the life expectancy in North Korea in 2019 was 72.3 years.

2020: Religion statistics in North Korea

According to a 2020 study, approximately 73% of the population in North Korea identified as irreligious, with 58% being agnostic and 15% atheist. 13% practice Chondoism, 12% practice Korean shamanism, 1.5% are Buddhist, and less than 0.5% practice another religion such as Christianity, Islam, or Chinese folk religion.

2021: WPK Reasserts Commitment to Communism

In 2021, the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) reasserted its commitment to communism.

2022: North Korea Voices Support for Russian Invasion of Ukraine

In 2022, North Korea voiced support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

December 2023: Kim Jong Un departs from position of mutual claims over Korean Peninsula

In December 2023, Kim Jong Un shifted from the longstanding position of mutual claims over the entire Korean Peninsula, previously held by both North and South Korea.

2023: China as Biggest Trading Partner

As of 2023, China is the biggest trading partner of North Korea, accounting for more than 74% of exports and 97% of imports.

January 2024: North Korea Ends Pursuit of Reunification

In January 2024, North Korea officially announced through its leader Kim Jong Un that it would no longer seek reunification with South Korea, identifying the country as a "hostile state".

June 2024: Estimated Nuclear Warhead Possession

In June 2024, North Korea was estimated to possess 50 nuclear warheads, with delivery capabilities provided by the Rocket Force, equipped with ballistic missiles capable of reaching up to 15,000 km.

December 2024: Pak Thae-song Heads the Cabinet

Since December 29, 2024, Pak Thae-song has headed the Cabinet of North Korea, and is the third-ranking official in North Korea.

2024: Abandonment of Korean Unification Plan

In 2024, North Korea abandoned its Korean unification plan and designated South Korea as a hostile country.

2024: North Korea and Russia Sign Defense Agreement

In 2024, North Korea and Russia signed a defense agreement.

2024: North Korea Deploys Troops to Russia

In 2024, North Korea sent troops to Russia to support its efforts in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

2024: Gross National Income per Capita

In 2024, North Korea's gross national income per capita was $1,261, compared to $36,760 in South Korea.

2024: DPRK abandons Korean reunification

In 2024, the DPRK formally abandoned efforts to reunify Korea.

2024: North Korea's population growth rate at 0.4%

In 2024, the population growth rate in North Korea had declined to 0.4%.

2025: World Press Freedom Index ranking

In 2025, North Korea ranked 179th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders' annual World Press Freedom Index.

2044: Renewable Energy Target

North Korea's long-term objective is to reach an output of 5 million kilowatts from renewable sources by 2044, up from its current total of 430,000 kilowatts from all sources.

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