<P> The North Korean nuclear program can roughly be divided into four phases . Phase I ( 1956 -- 80 ) dealt primarily with training and gaining basic knowledge . Phase II ( 1980 -- 94 ) covers the growth and eventual suspension of North Korea 's domestic plutonium production program . Phase III ( 1994 -- 2002 ) covers the period of the `` freeze '' on North Korea 's plutonium program ( though North Korea pursued uranium enrichment in secret ) and Phase IV ( 2002 -- present ) covers the current period of renewed nuclear activities . </P>
<P> The North Korean nuclear program can roughly be divided into four phases . Phase I ( 1956 -- 80 ) dealt primarily with training and gaining basic knowledge . Phase II ( 1980 -- 94 ) covers the growth and eventual suspension of North Korea 's domestic plutonium production program . Phase III ( 1994 -- 2002 ) covers the period of the `` freeze '' on North Korea 's plutonium program ( though North Korea pursued uranium enrichment in secret ) and Phase IV ( 2002 -- present ) covers the current period of renewed nuclear activities . </P>
when did the north korean nuclear program start
when did the north korean nuclear program start
1956
1956