6 January 2003
North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency accuses the United States of pursuing a plan of "military intervention against the DPRK" by moving forward with its plans to develop a ballistic missile defense system.
--"KCNA on U.S. Moves for MD Establishment," Korean Central News Agency, 6 January 2003, http://www.kcna.co.jp.

7 January 2003
Japanese and Indian foreign ministers express concerns over Pakistan's alleged role in the transfer of nuclear technology to North Korea. Japan's Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi says Pakistan's "clandestine transfer" of nuclear and missile technology to the DPRK will impact relations between Japan and Pakistan.
--"India, Japan Concerned over Alleged Pakistan-North Korea Nuke Link," Agence France Presse, 7 January 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com; "No Violation of Global Pacts, Pakistan Assures N Korea," Daily Times (Pakistan), 9 January 2003, http://www.dailytimes.com.pk.

7 January 2003
Japan's Defense Agency reportedly says North Korea's Nodong ballistic missile has a 50 percent chance of striking within a 2km radius of its target, making it more accurate than previously estimated. The Nodong missile has an estimated range of 1,300km and is capable of striking most of Japan.
--"North Korea's Missile Has Better tan Expected Accuracy: Report," Agence France Presse, 7 January 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com; "Japan Learns N. Korea's Nodong Missile May Be Accurate," Jiji Press Service, 7 January 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

11 January 2003
DPRK Ambassador to China Ch'oe Chin-su says North Korea may abandon the moratorium on ballistic missile tests that has been in place since 1999. Ch'oe suggests there may be potential to negotiate on the decision depending on U.S. policy towards North Korea.
--Hwang Yu-sŏng, Lee Yŏng-i, and Lee Ki-hong, "Puk, 'Misailsilhŏm Chaegae' Wihyŏp," Donga Ilbo, 13 January 2003, in KINDS, http://www.kinds.or.kr; Peter S. Goodman and Philip P. Pan, "N. Korea Threatens to Resume Missile Tests," Washington Post, 12 January 2003, pg. A1, http://www.washingtonpost.com.

13 January 2003
Rodong Sinmun, the official daily of the Korean Workers' Party, condemns the "U.S. piracy committed against the DPRK cargo ship Sŏsan as a blatant provocation" and warns against further actions to seize DPRK cargo ships carrying missiles.
--"Rodongsinmun 'Sŏsan' Hosagŏn'e Taehan Sajoewa Posang Yoku," Korean Central News Agency, 13 January 2003, http://www.kcna.co.jp/index-k.htm; "U.S. Warned Against Any More Piratic Acts Against DPRK Trading Cargo Ships," Korean Central News Agency, 13 January 2003, http://www.kcna.co.jp/index-e.htm.

13 January 2003
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs James Kelly visits South Korean and says Washington is ready for dialogue with Pyongyang over North Korea's withdrawal from the NPT and its renunciation of the moratorium on missile tests.
--Alexander Zyuzin, "US Willing to Talk to N Korea on Fuel Shortage-Kelly," ITAR-TASS, 13 January 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

14 January 2003
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi implores North Korea to maintain a moratorium on missile tests.
--"Japan Urges N Korea to Maintain Moratorium on Missile Tests," Agence France Presse, 14 January 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

14 January 2003
Following North Korea's announcement to end the missile test moratorium, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhang Qiyue expresses China's displeasure but urges, "No party should make any move that would further escalate the situation."
--"China Warns of Escalation after N Korean Threat to Test Missiles," Agence France Presse, 14 January 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

20 January 2003
North Korea's Central Broadcasting Station argues that the DPRK missile program is "strictly of a self-defensive and peaceful nature." The commentary also criticizes the U.S. and Japan for exaggerating the North Korean missile threat.
--"Cannot Take Issue with Strengthening Self-defensive Defence Capabilities," Central Broadcasting Station (Pyongyang), in "North Korean Daily Denounces US, Japan for 'Propagandizing' Missile Threat," BBC Monitoring, 20 January 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

23 January 2003
In response to U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's comment that the DPRK is the "biggest ballistic missile disseminator in the world," the Korean Central News Agency counters by criticizing the United States as the world's "biggest arms exporter."
--"KCNA Blasts U.S. Lip-service to Dialogue," Korean Central News Agency, 23 January 2003, http://www.kcna.co.jp.

24 January 2003
During a lower house budget committee meeting, Japanese Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba says Japan is constitutionally allowed to "counterattack" North Korea's missile bases if Pyongyang begins preparations for an attack on Japan. At the same meeting, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi states that it would be "within the legal framework of self-defense" for Japan to ask the U.S. to execute a preemptive attack against a North Korean missile launch.
--"Ishiba: Japan to 'Counterattack' If N. Korea Prepares to Attack," 25 January 2003, Yomiuri Shimbun, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com; "Japan Can Ask US Forces to Stop Any N Korean Missile Attack: Defence Chief," Agence France Presse, 24 January 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

January 2003
According to Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun, U.S. satellite imagery detects a static engine test for the Paektusan-2 ICBM at the Musudan-ri test site in North Hamgyong Province. The test is not confirmed by U.S. or South Korean sources.
--Lee Pyong-sok, "Yomiurishinmun Podo ‘Puk Taep’odong Misailbunsashilhom’," Munhwa Ilbo, 28 February 2003, in KINDS, ; "N. Korea Tests Ballistic Missile Booster in Jan.: Paper," Japan Economic Newswire, 27 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, ; David C Isby, "North Korean Missile Tests Raise Regional Tensions," Jane’s Missiles and Rockets, 18 March 2003.

4 February 2003
At the request of Tsutomu Arai, director of Japan's Nonproliferation Division at the Foreign Ministry, Petr Litavrin, deputy director-general of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Security and Arms Control Bureau, agrees to urge Pyongyang not to test-fire ballistic missiles.
--"Japan Asks Russia to Urge N. Korea Not to Test-fire Missiles," Japan Economic Newswire, 4 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com; "Japan, Russia Agree to Prevent N. Korea's Nuke Development," Jiji Press Service, 4 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

9 February 2003
Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun reports that an internal Japanese government document features a detailed plan to address the North Korean missile threat. The plan includes demanding that Pyongyang suspend any missile test launches, a public alert system in the case of North Korea preparing to launch missiles, and dispatching of Self-Defense Forces personnel "to deal with disasters" should a missile land within Japanese territory or waters.
--"Govt. Devises N. Korea Missile Plan," The Daily Yomiuri (Tokyo), 9 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com; "Gov't Prepares for Scenario of N. Korean Missile Launch: Paper," Kyodo News Service, 8 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

11 February 2003
CIA Director George Tenet testifies before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and says that the United States could face a "near term" missile threat from North Korea.
--"The Worldwide Threat in 2003: Evolving Dangers in a Complex World," DCI's Worldwide Threat Briefing, 11 February 2003, https://www.cia.gov/news-information/ speeches-testimony/2003/dci_speech_02112003.html.

13 February 2003
Japan's Defense Agency Director-General Shigeru Ishiba says Japan "will use military force as a self-defense measure" against North Korea if it is clear that the DPRK is preparing a ballistic missile strike against Japan. He adds that Tokyo will consider the process of fuelling a missile as the start of a military strike if the missile is pointed at Japan. Ishiba also states that the government will push Japan's parliament to enact "crisis-legislation" granting the military broader ability to act in case of a direct attack against Japan.
--"Japan Says it Would Strike North Korea if Attack Imminent," Channel NewsAsia, 13 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com; Stephen Lunn, "Japan Vows to Get in First Shot at N Korea - Countdown to War," The Weekend Australian, 15 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

14 February 2003
Japan's Defense Agency Director-General Shigeru Ishiba denies that Japan is preparing a preemptive strike against the DPRK to prevent a missile attack on Japan saying there is no "imminent danger of a missile launch" from North Korea and that "Japan is not making any special preparations" in response to the tense situation in North Korea.
--"Japan Defense Chief Denies Preparing Pre-emptive Strike on N. Korea," Agence France Presse, 14 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com; "N. Korea's Missile Threat Not Imminent: Defense Min.," Jiji Press Ticker Service, 14 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/.

14 February 2003
Defense Agency spokesman Akihiro Kobe says Defense Agency Director Ishiba's 13 February comments, in which he suggested Japan would launch a military strike if it had firm evidence of an imminent North Korean missile attack, was a reference to a legal argument that Japan has a constitutional right to self-defense.
--"Japan Defense Chief Denies Preparing Pre-emptive Strike on N. Korea," Agence France Presse, 14 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

24 February 2003
On the eve of South Korean President elect Roh Moo-Hyun's inauguration, North Korea fires a short-range anti-ship cruise missile, which travels 60 km before falling into the sea of Japan. Initially believed to be a CSSC-3 Seersucke" or AG-1, the cruise missile is later classified as either a Seersucker or a KN-01, which is a North Korean enhanced version of the Seersucker with an approximate range of 200km. The missile was launched from a Korean People's Navy coastal defense site located at either North Hamgyŏng Province or South Hamgyŏng Province. The test comes as U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is on a diplomatic tour of East Asia having visited Japan and China before arriving in Seoul for Roh's inauguration. Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is also at the inauguration. This is the first North Korean missile firing since the Paektusan-1 ballistic missile was launched over Japan on 31 August 1998.
--Han P'yŏng-su, "Misail Palsa Anp'ak," Munhwa Ilbo, 25 February 2003, in KINDS, http://www.kinds.or.kr; Doug Struck et al, "N. Korea Fires Missile on Eve of Transition In the South," Washington Post, 25 February 2003, pg. A1, http://www.thewashingtonpost.com; Lim Chang-Won, "North Korea fires missile as Roh becomes South Korean president," Agence France Presse, 25 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com; Joseph Bermudez, "North Korea Tests Anti-ship Cruise Missiles," Jane's Defense Weekly, 28 February 2003, http://www.janes.com.

25 February 2003
Japan's Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda say North Korea's 24 February missile test-launch does not violate the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration of September 2002 because it was an anti-ship cruise missile and not a long-range ballistic missile. Kawaguchi however calls on North Korea to be calm, saying that the missile launch does not "contribute to the easing of regional tensions."
--"Govt Says N. Korea Missile Launch Didn't Violate Bilateral Declaration," Yomiuri Shimbun, 26 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com; "Pyongyang Fires Missile into Sea," Korea Times, 26 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

25 February 2003
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell downplays the North Korean cruise missile test, saying it was not "particularly surprising" and "seems to be a fairly innocuous" test that does not violate North Korea's moratorium on tests of long-range ballistic missiles.
--"Press Conference," U.S. Department of State, 25 February 2003, http://www.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/2003/17933.htm.

25 February 2003
An unidentified South Korean Ministry of Defense official says North Korea's cruise missile test appears to a part of a regular "winter military drill" by the North Korean military.
--Park Pyŏng-jin, "Misail Sihŏmpbalsa Paegyŏng; Puk Yŏllyejŏk Tonggyehullyŏn Kanŭngsŏng," Segye Ilbo, 26 February 2003, in KINDS, http://www.kinds.or.kr; Anwar Iqbal, "U.S. Downplays North Korean Missile Test," United Press International, 25 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

25 February 2003
During a Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Kuala Lumpur, some NAM member countries express disappointment over North Korea's withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and test-launch of missiles despite appeals from NAM members to reconsider. A representative of the DPRK, which is a member of NAM, brushed aside concerns and questions regarding Pyongyang's missile launch the previous day.
--Park Pyŏng-jin, "Misail Sihŏmpbalsa Paegyŏng; Puk Yŏllyejŏk Tonggyehullyŏn Kanŭngsŏng," Segye Ilbo, 26 February 2003, in KINDS, http://www.kinds.or.kr; "Non-aligned Nations Express Concern over N. Korea Missile Launch," Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 25 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

26 February 2003
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage reportedly tells Japanese lawmakers that U.S. Forces would execute an immediate "counterattack" against North Korea if the DPRK military carries out a missile attack on Japan.
--"U.S. to Counter N. Korea Missile Attack on Japan: Armitage," Japan Economic Newswire, 26 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

27 February 2003
The Japanese government announces that it does not intend to protest North Korea's launching of an anti-ship cruise missile on 24 February 2003.
--"Japan Not to Protest N. Korea's Missile Launch Mon.," Japan Economic Newswire, 27 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

27 February 2003
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda denies a Yomiuri Shimbun report that claims U.S. satellite imagery detected a static engine test for the Paektusan-2 long-range ballistic missile at the Musudan-ri test site in North Hamgyŏng Province in January 2003. Fukuda says, "We have not received information as reported in the media."
--Lee Pyŏng-sŏk, "Yomiurishinmun Podo 'Puk Taep'odong Misailbunsashilhŏm'," Munhwa Ilbo, 28 February 2003, in KINDS, http://www.kinds.or.kr; "N. Korea Tests Ballistic Missile Booster in Jan.: Paper," Japan Economic Newswire, 27 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

3 March 2003
A North Korean radio broadcast accuses the United States of spreading "rumors of [North Korea's] missile threat." The commentary reiterates the official North Korean position that its missiles are not meant to "threaten anyone," and that the missile systems are solely for "self-defense."
--"Scheme Cannot Hide Dark Nature," Korean Central Broadcasting Station (Pyongyang), 3 March 2003, in "North Korean Radio Reiterates 'Self-defensive' Purpose of Missiles," BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 20 January 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

3 March 2003
The Japanese government announces that it will not allow its Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to counter a North Korean attack and that the nation will instead rely on U.S. forces to counter such an attack. The statement also says that the government will publicly announce any North Korean missile launch and if a missile hits Japanese territory, its SDF will be dispatched for "disaster relief operations."
--"SDF Troops Will Not Respond With Force to N. Korea Attack," Mainichi Daily News, 3 March 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

4 March 2003
Four North Korean fighter jets intercept an unarmed U.S. reconnaissance plane in international airspace, but do not fire upon it. The plane, an RC-135S "Cobra Ball" which tracks ballistic-missile launchings, is shadowed for 22 minutes approximately 150 miles off the North Korean coast by the jets.
--Eric Schmitt, "North Korea: MiGs Intercept U.S. Jet on Spying Mission," The New York Times, 4 March 2003, p. A1, <http://www.nytimes.com/>.

10 March 2003
North Korea fires a surface-to-air cruise missile, but a South Korean official says the missile explodes in mid-air before reaching its target some 110 miles away in the Sea of Japan. The missile is believed to be the same type of anti-ship cruise missile fired by the DPRK on 24 February 2003.
--Jong-Heon Lee, "N.Korea Fires Another Land-to-Ship Missile," United Press International, 10 March 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Doug Struck, "N. Korea Test-Fires Missile Into Sea of Japan," The Washington Post, 10 March 2003, p. A17, <http://washingtonpost.com/>.

10 March 2003
Jane's Defence Weekly reports that the DPRK's missile tests on 24 February 2003 and 10 March 2003 "appear" to have employed an "indigenously designed extended-range version of the CSSC-3 'Seersucker' medium-range anti-ship missile." [Note: The "Seersucker" is sometimes referred to as the AG-1 as it was first test fired from the An-gol army barracks on North Korea's east coast in May 1997. Previous news reports on the missile tests have classified the missiles as short-range; this article is likely the first to classify the missiles as medium-range.]
--Joseph Bermudez Jr., "North Korea Continues Anti-ship Cruise Missile Tests," Jane's Defence Weekly, 10 March 2003, <http://www.janes.com>.

10 March 2003
Japan's defense chief, Shigeru Ishiba, states that North Korea's missile test is not "considered to have a significant impact on [Japan's] national safety."
--Doug Struck, "N. Korea Test-Fires Missile into Sea of Japan," The Washington Post, 10 March 2003, p. A17, <http://www.washingtonpost.com/>.

10 March 2003
Washington refuses to hold direct talks with Pyongyang despite North Korea's cruise missile test. U.S. officials say that talks with North Korea may eventually happen as part of a "broader dialogue." [Note: North Korea has repeatedly called upon the U.S. to engage in bilateral rather than multilateral talks regarding the DPRK's nuclear program].
--"US Rejects North Korea's Demand for Direct Talks to End Nuke Crisis," Agence France Presse, 10 March 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Yonhap News Agency, 14 February 2003, in "North Korean envoy to UN Reiterates Calls for Bilateral Talks With USA," BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 14 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

18 March 2003
In an official statement, the DPRK Foreign Ministry criticizes the United States and Japan for maintaining "rumors...that North Korea may launch ballistic missiles again." The statement also calls Japan's deployment of "military hardware" meant to "monitor and intercept" North Korean missiles a "sinister attempt." The statement also claims that Japanese plans to launch a spy-satellite and establish missile defense systems are "hostile act[s]" which "cannot be interpreted as a sincere attitude toward the Pyongyang declaration."
--"Spokesman for DPRK Foreign Ministry on Rumor About its Possible Missile Launch=," Korean Central News Agency, 18 March 2003, <www.kcna.co.jp>.

19 March 2003
The Rodong Sinmun, official daily of the Korean Workers' Party, publishes a commentary accusing Japan of being in a "great hurry" to "introduce the U.S. interceptor missile system," and intending to "reinvade the DPRK." The editorial warns that if Japan "keeps acting recklessly...it will have to pay dearly for it."
--Rodong Sinmun, 19 March 2003, in "Japan Urged to Stop Acting Rashly," Korean Central News Agency, 19 March 2003, <www.kcna.co.jp>.

28 March 2003
Japan launches a rocket placing two spy-satellites into low-earth orbit despite threats of "disastrous consequences" by the DPRK. The satellites will allow Japan to detect preparations for ballistic missile launches at North Korean missile sites.
--James Brooke, "Japan Launches Spy Satellite Despite North Korean Threats," The New York Times, 28 March 2003, <http://www.nytimes.com/>.

28 March 2003
A DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesperson says that by launching a spy satellite using an H-2A rocket, Japan is "wantonly violating the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration [of September 2002] whereby both sides committed themselves to refrain from doing any act threatening the other side." The spokesperson also says that "Japan will be held wholly responsible for sparking a new arms race in Northeast Asia."
--"DPRK Foreign Ministry Spokesman Blasts Japan's Launch of Spy Satellite," Korean Central News Agency, 28 March 2003, <www.kcna.co.jp>.

29 March 2003
Japanese Defense Agency Director-General Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean Defense Minister Cho Young Kil discuss the threat of North Korea's ballistic missile program and say that the North Korean nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully. Cho states that there is no "specific evidence" to suggest North Korea is preparing a ballistic missile launch. Ishiba says that the missile defense system being developed by the United States and Japan is a "wholly defensive system and the only way to defend" Japan from the North Korean ballistic missile threat.
--"Japan, S. Korea to Resolve N. Korean Issue Peacefully," Japan Economic Newswire, 29 March 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

	Updated August 2007