In the year 2017, North Korea was involved in the 2017 North Korea crisis, along with other events. The country conducted a nuclear test in September, and several missile tests throughout the year. One of these was the country's first successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Hwasong-14. Two missiles were launched over Hokkaido in the Japanese archipelago, in August and in September 2017.
Incumbents Party Chairman and State Chairman: Kim Jong Un President of the Supreme People's Assembly: Kim Yong-nam Premier: Pak Pong-ju
Events Inclusion and organization of events This timeline categorizes 2017 events relevant to North Korea in two groups: North Korea's own actions and internal developments (left column), and the international community interacting or reacting to North Korea (right column). For example, if North Korea launches a missile, that is an event originating in North Korea and would be nested on the left side. And when the United Nations Security Council approves a resolution admonishing North Korea in connection with its tests, that is an event originating from an outside entity but directly relevant to the country, and is listed on the right side.
Note that the dates mostly reflect the publication of the news. News that span more than one day are usually listed according to the earliest day the event begun or was reported, or, they are listed by month but not by day.
January North Korea South Korea and International Jan 1: Kim Jong-Un makes his fifth New Year's Day speech. Jan 1: Kim Jong Un said his country is in the “last stage” of preparations to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Jan 11: S.K. white paper reports that N.K. has 50 kg of weapons-grade plutonium. Jan 18: N.K. distributes new manual on broad photography restrictions to foreign diplomats. Jan 18: Following Kim Jong Un's New Year's Day Address outline, a N.K. government conference on implementing the tasks for reunification is held in Pyongyang. Jan 18: S.K. and other intelligence agencies deem a N.K. ICBM test more likely in the short term. Two new ICBM models seem to have been detected by foreign intelligence agencies. Jan 18: Recent satellite imagery suggests that Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center, which reprocesses plutonium, may have resumed operations.
Jan 23: A new bridge is under construction between China's Tumen City and N.K.’s Namyang City. The bridge is near Rason Port and Chongjin Port, two gateways used by China. Jan 25: Satellite imagery confirms Chinese oil rig in N.K's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In 2015 imagery had already revealed another one. Jan 30: N.K. is reported to be strengthening its measures to limit defections across the border with China, by using more unmanned detection devises, more including infrared cameras. Jan 30: Russian and N.K. officials sign a memorandum of understanding on a program to train North Korean students in the field of railway transport at Russian universities. Jan: U.S. provides humanitarian aid to N.K. for the first time since 2011, despite nuclear tensions. Jan 1: The United States condemns N.K.’s claims it will test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile and warned Pyongyang against “provocative actions.” Jan 2: S. Korean Navy conducts new year maritime drill amid N.K. threats. Jan 4: China reportedly lifts ban on N.K.'s coal, its largest export. The ban had been imposed in compliance with UN Security Council resolution 2321 in reaction to N.K.'s fifth nuclear test. The U.N. launches a new website section to monitor N.K. coal exports, designed to increase accountability and UNSC resolutions compliance among U.N. member states. Jan 5: S.K. begins conducting investigations of N.K. human rights violations in compliance with a new law, to build a database of N.K. rights violators. Jan 6: S.K. accuses China of retaliating against South Korea's planned deployment of THAAD deployment (U.S. anti-missile defense system for mid-range missiles; North Korea mid-range missiles could reach any part of South Korea, and some parts of Japan). These include economic retaliations, as well as canceling seven joint military events between S.K. and China.
Jan 10: A sea-based U.S. military radar leaves Hawaii to monitor for potential North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile test launches. Jan 11: N.K. had recently hacked several S.K. government agencies, defectors, analysts, NGOs, and companies. Jan 16: China increases pressure to dissuade S.K. from deploying THAAD, and it becomes a divisive electoral issue in S.K. Jan 17: Japan to launch a missile defense satellite (Kirameki No. 2) to upgrade the country's surveillance network that can detect and track North Korea missile launches. Jan 24: S.K.'s Ministry of Unification launches an advisory body to help the government set up its policy on N.K.'s human rights, in accordance with a new law aimed at improving the way N.K. treats its people. Jan 25: China releases a new, comprehensive list of goods that can not be exported to N.K., including dual-use. Jan 25: Transparency International ranks N.K. as world's third most corrupt nation. Jan 26: Following accusations of non-compliance with UN-imposed sanctions, China claims that it is enforcing sanctions against importing coal from N.K. Jan 29: U.S President Trump expressed his “ironclad” commitment to the continued defense of S.K. against N.K., in a phone conversation with S.K. acting president. This pronouncement comes after months of Trump's candidacy stirring uncertainty as to his policies towards U.S.' East-Asian allies.
February North Korea South Korea and International Feb 3: General Kim Won Hong, head of state security, was dismissed on charges of corruption and abuse of power. Feb 11: N.K. test-fires a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Pukkuksong-2, continuing to develop its rocket technology, in defiance of the international community's opposition. In contrast to older, liquid-fueled rockets that take hours to prepare for launch and are easier to detect counteract by other countries, the Pukkuksong-2 is a solid-fuel rocket that can be launched in minutes. Feb 17: N.K. reacts to Malaysian inquiries on Kim Jong-nam's murder investigation, by accusing the Malaysian government to plot against N.K., and relations become strained. Both countries recall their respective ambassadors. Feb 20: N.K. repeatedly refuses to confirm the identity of the deceased Kim Jong-nam, or to cooperate in the murder's investigations. It requests the body, and protests Malaysia conducting an autopsy. Feb 27: A U.N. panel of experts in its annual review, reports that N.K. has been partnering with at least seven African nations to train soldiers, build infrastructure and sell a wide range of weapons and vehicles. It also concluded that N.K. is “flouting” UN sanctions by trading in prohibited goods with evasion techniques that are increasing in scale, scope and sophistication, mostly via China. Feb 1: Freedom House ranks N.K. among the worst violators of human rights in the world. Feb 2: A top official of the new U.S. administration (Defense Secretary Jim Mattis) visits South Korea and Japan for the first time since the beginning of the U.S. new administration, reaffirming the strong alliances, emphasizing protection against N.K's nuclear threat.
Feb 2: The interim S.K. government and U.S. reaffirm their intent to push ahead with the deployment the THAAD missile defense system. Opposition leaders in Seoul continue opposing the THAAD as they say it would do little to defend South Korea from the North's plentiful short-range missiles but would anger China. Feb 11: North Korea's missile test of Feb 11 was of a lower range than first feared after Kim Jong Un's pronouncements on early January; the test turned not to be of a long-range missile (ICBM), but just an intermediate range. The test happened while Japanese prime minister Abe and U.S. president Trump were meeting. Trump pledged continued support for Japan, and said little about N.K., displaying unusual restraint. Feb 13: UN Security Council unanimously condemns N.K.'s missile test Feb 14: Kim Jong-nam, eldest son of Kim Jong Il and a half-brother of Kim Jong Un, is assassinated in an airport in Malaysia when two women expose him to a poison. Feb 15: The suspect women are arrested, and identified as Vietnamese and Indonesian. They claimed they were duped and thought they were just carrying out a joke. The Police later reports that the women had practiced the attack at two malls. Feb 15: Malaysia lists at least 11 suspects, including 6 North Korean citizens. A senior North Korean diplomat is also wanted for questioning, but N.K. refuses. Feb 17: South Korean reports that Kim Jong-nam's assassination could be conducted by North Korea, prompt Malaysian officials to deepen their investigation. Feb 23: Kim Jong-nam's autopsy reveals he died from exposure to VX nerve agent, the deadliest nerve agent ever synthesized, and labelled as a weapon of mass destruction that is banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention. N.K. protests the autopsy being conducted and rejects its findings. Mar 1: Analysts suggest that Kim Jong-nam might have been assassinated to deprive China of an alternative N.K. leader to replace Kim Jong Un. Feb 18: China announces complete ban of coal imports from N.K. The ban will be in place until the end of the year, in an effort to curtail N.K.'s nuclear ambitions, and possibly as retaliation for the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, thought to have friendly ties to China. In recent years coal exports have accounted for about 40% of all N.K. international trade. China had previously claimed compliance with the UNSC resolutions, but it allowed some exemptions and deliveries continued.
March
North Korea South Korea and International Mar 3: North Korea has finished construction of a new hydropower plant in North Hwanghae Province. Mar 5: N.K. declares Malaysia's ambassador persona non grata and had ordered him to leave.
Mar 6: N.K. launches four ballistic missiles. The missiles took off from Tongchang-ri, in the Northwest, and some flew 620 miles before falling into the sea between N.K. and Japan. The move prompted US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to embark on a diplomatic mission ten days later to Japan, South Korea and China, in an effort to resolve the heightened international tension in the region S.K. defense officials later said the projectiles were Scud-ER ballistic missiles with a 620-mile range. Mar 7: N.K. bans all Malaysians from leaving its soil, as retaliations escalate over diplomatic rift after Kim Jong-nam's death. Mar 9: N.K. allows two Malaysian employees of the United Nations' World Food Program to leave the country, while 9 remain retained. Mar 10: Commercial satellite imagery reveals that N.K. is continuing to excavate a tunnel at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, which may support an explosion up to 14 times more powerful than its last test. While the 5th nuclear test (2016) was estimated as 15-20 kilotons, the site is now ready to test up to 282 kilotons. Mar 13: N.K. boycotts a U.N. review of its human rights record. Mar 16: It is reported that the number of official markets in North Korea has been quickly growing (under the connivance of the authorities). Mar 17: It is reported that Kim Jong Un instructed Ministry of State Security officials to refrain from threatening people in order to extort bribes. It is unclear why and how long this new policy will last. Mar 19: N.K. claims that it conducted a successful ground jet test of a newly developed high-thrust missile engine. This could be progress towards developing an ICBM. Mar 20: Some reports say that prices for market goods are fluctuating. This may be an indicator of the State's losing princing control, in favor of market forces.