Major Developments Major Developments by Calendar Year

October 9, 2006, North Korea conducted Nuclear Test. It is first nation to conduct Nuclear test after announcing its intention on October 3^rd (6 days before). The estimated discharge of the test was less than one kiloton. Since October 2002, there were conflicts between Unites States and North Korea. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly informed North Korean officials that the United States was aware that North Korea had a program underway to enrich uranium for use in nuclear weapons. Initially North Korea denied this, but later confirmed the veracity of the US claim. Kim Jong Il had created the excitement as best as he can for threatening missile launch when the country tested a nuclear weapon in 2006. After the test, negative economic effects were observed throughout the neighborhood of North Korea. North Korean officials claimed that it had recycled spent fuel rods and threatened to begin exporting nuclear materials unless the United States agreed one-on-one talks with North Korea. Another feature is that North Korea want to change the policy dealings between the US and China due to the fact that the US is unwilling to deal directly with North Korea and this in turn spoiled relations between China and North Korea. China and the United States showed disapproval around the world, after North Korea conducted its first nuclear test, criticizing the move as annoying and, in some capitals, there was a demand of a tough U.N. Response. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, called the move unpardonable.