North Korea launched missile tests on July 5 , 2006 , leading to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1695 . The country said on October 3 , " The U.S. extreme threat of a nuclear war and sanctions and pressure compel the DPRK to conduct a nuclear test " , which the Bush administration denied and denounced . Days later , North Korea followed through on its promise to test nuclear weapons . On October 14 , the Security Council unanimously passed United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 , sanctioning North Korea for the test . In the waning days of his presidency , Bush attempted to re-open negotiations with North Korea , but North Korea continued to develop its nuclear programs
test nuclear weapons
2006 North Korean nuclear test
Presidency of George W. Bush