Following is a chronology of events related to North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes:

August 1998: North Korea test-fires an intermediate-range Taepodong-1 ballistic missile, part of which flies over Japan and falls into the Pacific Ocean.

September 1999: The United States and North Korea agree on a moratorium on future missile tests.

January 2003: North Korea withdraws from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

August 2003: The first round of six-party denuclearisation talks involving Japan, China, North and South Korea, Russia and the United States held in Beijing.

February 2005: North Korea declares that it has nuclear weapons.

July 2006: North Korea launches seven ballistic missiles.

July 2006: The UN Security Council (UNSC) adopts a resolution demanding that North Korea suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme.

October 9, 2006: North Korea announces that it has conducted an underground nuclear test.

October 15, 2006: The UNSC adopts a Resolution 1758 condemning the test, imposing sanctions and banning North Korea's ballistic and nuclear activities.

October 2007: A six-party document commits Pyongyang to disabling its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon and declaring all of its atomic programmes by December 31.

October 2008: North Korea destroys water cooling tower at Yongbyon nuclear facility.

October 2008: The US removes North Korea from its blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism, saying Pyongyang has agreed to a series of steps to verify its nuclear programmes.

Feb 4, 2009: North Korea releases a comment indicating that it is preparing for the launch of a "satellite."

Mar 12, 2009: North Korea notifies international aviation and maritime organisations of its plan to launch a satellite between April 4 and 8.

Mar 31-April 2, 2009: Leaders of US, Japan and South Korea, reaffirm their consensus that if North Korea launches a rocket, the issue should be taken to the UNSC.

Apr 2, 2009: North Korea's military warns Japan, South Korea and the United States that it will retaliate if any attempt is made to intercept its rocket.

Apr 4, 2009: North Korea says preparations for the satellite launch are over and it will take place "soon."

Apr 5, 2009: North Korea launches a long-range rocket, which flies over northeast Japan and falls into the Pacific Ocean.

May 25, 2009: North Korea conducts second nuclear test.

June 12, 2009: The UNSC adopts Resolution 1874 sanctioning North Korea for its nuclear test.

July 2, 2009: North Korea test-fires four short-range missiles.

July 4, 2009: North Korea fires seven missiles.