Timeline: DPRK missile and nuclear tests

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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday was its first launch in two months, but it follows a string of missile and nuclear tests by Pyongyang that have accelerated over the past two years under leader Kim Jong Un.

Here is a recap of the main tests since 2006.

2006

- Oct 9: First underground nuclear test.

2009

- April 5: Launch of a suspected Taopodong-2 rocket, with an estimated range of 6,700 km. It lands in the Pacific after flying over Japan.

- May 25: Second underground nuclear test.

A man looks at a street monitor showing a news report about the DPRK's missile launch, in Tokyo, Japan, November 29, 2017. /Reuters Photo

2011

- Dec 17: DPRK leader Kim Jong Il dies. He is succeeded by his son Kim Jong Un.

2012

- April 13: A long-range rocket launching a satellite disintegrates soon after take-off.

- Dec 12: DPRK launches a multi-stage rocket, says it successfully placed a satellite in orbit.

2013

- Feb 12: Third underground nuclear test.

2016

- Jan 6: Fourth underground nuclear test. Pyongyang says it’s a hydrogen bomb.

- Mar 9: Kim Jong Un says the DPRK has miniaturized a thermo-nuclear warhead.

The DPRK's leader Kim Jong Un inspects artillery launchers ahead of a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) on April 25, 2017. /KCNA Photo via Reuters

- Apr 23: DPRK test-fires a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

- June 22: Pyongyang conducts two tests of an intermediate range Musudan missile. Four previous launches of the same kind had failed.

- Aug 3: DPRK fires two ballistic missiles. One lands in Japan's maritime economic zone for the first time.

- Aug 24: DPRK fires a submarine-launched ballistic missile, which flies 500 km.

- Sept 5: Launch of three ballistic missiles that travel about 1,000 km, one enters Japan’s air defense zone.

- Sept 9: Fifth nuclear test.

2017

- Feb 12: DPRK fires an intermediate-range Pukguksong-2 ballistic missile, which flies 500 km.

- March 6: Launch of four ballistic missiles. Three fall into Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

People watch a news report on the DPRK firing what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in Seoul, ROK, November 29, 2017. /Reuters Photo

- March 22: A DPRK missile appears to explode just after launch.

- April 5: DPRK fires what the US says is a liquid-fueled, extended-range Scud missile into the sea.

- May 14: Launch of a ballistic missile with an estimated range of 4,500 km, meaning it could reach Guam. It lands in the Sea of Japan.

- July 4: DPRK test-fires what it says is a Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Analysts say it could reach Alaska.

- July 28: Pyongyang launches an ICBM with a theoretical range of 10,000 km, putting much of the USA in range.

- Aug 26: Launch of three short-range ballistic missiles.

- Aug 29: DPRK fires an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan and into the Pacific.

- Sept 3: Sixth nuclear test, the DPRK's most powerful yet.

- Sept 15: DPRK fires an intermediate-range missile over Japan for the second time in a month.

- Nov 29: Pyongyang launches an intercontinental ballistic missile that flies 1,000 miles before coming down in the Sea of Japan.

(With input from agencies)

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Source(s): AFP