Consultant: Nicholas Harris

History of North Korea

2333–108 BC
The Kingdom of Gojoseon rules the Korean Peninsula.

108 BC
Gojoseon is defeated at the hands of the Chinese Han dynasty, who create four Chinese-administered commanderies in the northern Korean peninsula.

5th–7th centuries AD
Three Kingdoms, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, compete for control of the Korean Peninsula. Goguryeo rules the northern half of the peninsula, as well as Liaodong Peninsula and Manchuria. Baekje and Silla occupy the southern half of the peninsula.

676
The Kingdom of Silla drives out the forces of Chinese Tang dynasty and wins control of much of the Korean Peninsula. With its capital at Gyeongju, Silla was a prosperous country, where Buddhism flourishes. Balhae, meanwhile, controls the northern parts of what was once Goguryeo.

936–1392
Goryeo, the successor state of Goguryeo, rules the Korean Peninsula, uniting its kingdoms and states. In the 13th century, Korea becomes a tributary ally to the Mongols, with all Korean kings marrying Mongol princesses.

1392–1897
The Joseon dynasty rules Korea: King Taejo comes to power by overthrowing the Goryeo dynasty. He names the country Joseon and creates a new capital, Hanseong (now Seoul).

1592–98
Japan under Toyotomi Hideyoshi launches invasions of Korea. The Japanese advance is halted by Korean forces, most notably by the Joseon Navy.

1656
Sailors on a Dutch merchant ship that runs aground on Korea’s Jeju island, are taken prisoner for 13 years. European traders are banned from Korean ports until the 19th century.

1882
Joseon–United States Treaty, in which Korea is forced to open its borders to American traders

1910–45
Korea is invaded and annexed by Japan. During Japanese rule, Korean language, culture and history is suppressed.

1945
At the end of World War II, Japan’s territories, including Korea, are taken over by the Allies. Soviet troops occupy the north while US troops occupy the south.

1948
The Korean Peninsula is divided in two. The independent Republic of Korea is established in the south while the Soviet-backed Democratic People's Republic of Korea is established in the north, with Kim Il Sung appointed premier.

1950–53
North Korea invades South Korea, beginning the Korean War. North Korea is backed by China and the Soviet Union, which South Korea is backed by the United Nations, with US-led forces. Over 2.5 million Koreans, Americans, Chinese and others are killed in the conflict.

1953
Armistice (formal ceasefire) splits the Korean peninsula along a demilitarized zone near the original demarcation line; no peace treaty is signed, resulting in the two countries remaining technically at war

1994
Kim Il-sung, dictator-president since 1948, dies. His son, Kim Jong-il, takes over.

1994–98
Severe famine kills up to 800,000 North Koreans. This period is officially known as the Arduous March or the March of Suffering.

2011
Kim Jong-il dies and his son, Kim Jong-un, becomes president.

2013
An international crisis is provoked when North Korea tests four guided nuclear missiles. They fall into the sea without putting neighbouring nations at risk.

2016
North Korea launches a long-range missile into space in violation of UN treaties

2018 (April)
Kim Jong-un crosses into South Korea to meet with President Moon Jae-in. Kim becomes the first North Korean leader to cross the Demilitarized Zone since its creation in 1953

2018 (June)
Kim Jong-un meets US president Donald Trump in Singapore. They agree to work towards complete "denuclearization" (removing nuclear weapons) of the Korean peninsula.

2024
North Korean troops are sent to Russia to fight alongside Russian forces in their invasion of Ukraine.