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April 15,1912
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Kim Il-sung (birth name Kim Sŏng-ju ) born in Mangyongdae near Pyongyang
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Feb 18, 1932
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Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo proclaimed. Chinese in Manchuria organized volunteer armies to oppose the Japanese .
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April 25, 1932
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North Korea claims Kim Il-sung organized anti-Japanese guerilla unit in Manchuria Celebrated as the founding day of the Korean People' Army
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1935
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Kin Il Sung joins Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, organized by the Manchuria branches of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),later supported by the Soviet Union,fights Japanese at Pochonbo (1937)
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June 4, 1937
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Pochonbo raid against Japanese led by Kim Il-sung
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Nov 1938
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Kim Il-sung takes command of the Second Directional Army of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army
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1941
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Kim retreats to Soviet Union, trains in Soviet camps till the end of WWII., becomes captain in Soviet Army.
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Feb 16, 1942
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Kim Jong-il born
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July 1945
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Allies decide to divide Korea
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Aug 9, 1945
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Soviet Union attacks Japanese in Manchuria, advances in Korea to 38 parallel,
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Aug 15,1945
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Japanese surrender
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Sept 19, 1945
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Kim Il-sung returns to Korea from Soviet Union via boat at
Wonson, Soviets maneuver Kim Il Sung into power
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Dec 17, 1945
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Kim Il-sung becomes chairman of the North Korean branch of the Korean Communist Party
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Feb 1946
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Kim Il-sung becomes chairman of the North Korean Provisonal People's Committee
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Oct 1, 1946
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Kim Il-sung University founded
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Feb 8,1948
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Korean People's Army (KPA) established
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March 31,1948
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UN election, held only in the South
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Aug 15,1948
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Republic of Korea declared
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Sept 9, 1948
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Democratic People's republic founded, Kim Il sung becomes first premier
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Dec 24,1948
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Remainder of Soviet occupation force leaves Korea
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June 25,1949
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US troops leave Korea
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June 30,1949
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North Korean Worker's Party and South Korean worker's Party unite to form Worker's Party of Korea, Kim Il sung becomes chairman
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June 25,1950
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Korean War starts
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Sept 15, 1950
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Incheon landing
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Oct 7,1950
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UN forces cross 38 parallel
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Oct 25 1950
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Chinese troops enter Korea
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June 27, 1953
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cease fire agreement signed, ending fighting in Korean War, North and South Korea still officially at war
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Dec 28, 1955
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Kim Il sung delivers speech on Juche
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Dec 1956
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Chollima work teams method to increase production
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Feb 1960
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Kim Il-sung devises Chongsalli method for agriculture
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Oct 1962
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Kim Il-sung devises Taean method for industry
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early 60s
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North Korean economy stronger than South Korea due to investment in heavy industry, drastically increased military expenditures after brief Korean-Soviet split weakens economy
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Sept 1961
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Kim Il sung re-elected chairman
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1962
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Taean work method promoted, populace to be trained in arms
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Jan 16, 1968
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North Korean commandos attempt to assassinate Park Chun Hee
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Jan 23, 1968
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USS Pueblo captured
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April 15,1969
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American EC-121 spy plane shot down, crew of 31 killed
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Dec 25, 1972
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Kim elected president
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Dec 27,1972
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new constitution proclaimed
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1970s
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South Korean GNP surpasses North Korea, South Korea starts and abandons nuclear weapons project under US pressure, North Korea begins to dig tunnels under DMZ, fuel and food shortages leads to greater crackdowns on dissent
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1972
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Juche becomes official ideology of North Korea in 1972 constitution
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1973
1975
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Beginning of Red Cross talks
North Korea produces plutonium
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Aug 18, 1976
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Axe murder incident at DMZ
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1976
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North Korea defaults on international loan repayments
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Dec 1977
1978
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Kim re-elected president
Kim Jong-il orders the kidnapping of South Korean actress Choi Eun-hee and her ex-husband, director Shin Sang-ok
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1980
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Kim Jong il promoted to 2nd highest position in the party
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1982
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Kim's 70th birthday celebrated with the Arch of Triumph,Juche Tower and Kim Il sung stadium, Yongbyon gas grahite nuclear reactor sta
rted. As this type of reactors are used more for producing weapons than electricity, US and USSR alarmed. Soviet Union agrees to aid NK in producing light water reactors, which can't produce nuclear weapons. Collapse of Soviets prevents this.
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Oct 9, 1983
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Assassination attempt against Park Chung Hee in Rangoon,17 SK high officals killed
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Oct 7, 1987
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Korean Air flight 858 bombed, 115 killed
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1988
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Seoul Olympics
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1991
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Soviet Union established diplomatic relations with South Korea, Russia and China demand hard currency for fuel, food and other products. Severe power shortages result. America removes last nuclear weapons from South Korea. Free trade zones established.
Reported coup against Kim Il Sung by by Perestroika influenced generals. Plot uncovered and generals exected.
Kim Il Sung backs supports hard line coup in Soviet Union. Coup fails, Yeltsin cuts off aid and credit.
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1992
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PRC recognises South Korea and cuts off aid to North Korea. demands market prices for goods and oil.
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1993
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U.S. announces it will target NK with nuclear missles.North Korean announcement to withdraw from Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. U.S. draws up plans to attack Yongbyon nuclear plant.
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July 8, 1994
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Kim Il Song dies of heart attack, son Kim Jong il becomes head of state, North Korea signs the Agreed Framework after Carter visits NK in which NK agrees to halt development ofof nuclear weapons in return building civilian reactors and oil supplies
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1995
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Severe Floods, famine estimates of deaths as high as 2~3 million,North Korea $10 billion in debt, 50% of GNP
Kim Jong-il announces the 'military first' or (선군정치, Son'gun chŏngch'i policy
Rise in power of military in NK.
Reported coup attempt against Kim Jong Il by army elements in famine hit North Hamgyong province. Exposed by Kim Yong Chun, who is promoted by Kim Jong Il to Vice Chairman of the powerful National Defense Commission.
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1996
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Sept 1996, North Korean commando submarine stranded in South,24 NK killed, 14 SK killed in firefights. 'Red Banner Philosophy' promoted in NK, emphasing defense of the Suryong (leader) and martial spirit and becomes more prominent than juche.
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1997
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Defection of Hwang Jang-yop , prominent NK official and architect of juche
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1998
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South Korean President Kim Dae jong establishes Sunshine policy to improve relations with the North, North Korea launches first satellite with a Taepodong-1 is a two-stage intermediate-range ballistic missile
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2002
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George Bush refers to North Korea as part of the 'axis of evil'
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April 2003
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The Pong Su incident Australian Special Operations Command intercepted and boarded the Pong Su, a North Korean ocean freighter in Australian territorial waters. The ship was suspected of being involved in smuggling almost 150 kg (330 pounds) of heroin into Australia. An official of the governing Korean Workers' Party was found on board, linking the drug shipment to Kim Jong-il's government. Nuclear reactors reactivated, refuses to allow nuclear inspectors into country. Test firing of missile into Sea of Japan .
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2006
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In reaction to the US invasion of Iraq, North Korea builds and detonates nuclear device on Oct 9,2006,
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2007
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severe flooding in Aug, 2007, about 450 killed, more famine
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2008
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South Korean tourist shot and killed at Kŭmgangsan Tourist Region suspendeds South Korea tourist travel to the region
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Aug 2009
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former President Clinton meets with Kim Jong-il to secure the release of 2 US journalists
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