A look at some of the significant nuclear and missile tests by North Korea this year:
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February 12
North Korea conducts its first known test of a new mid-range ballistic missile it calls the Pukguksong (Polaris)-2, a land-based variant of an earlier developed submarine-launched missile.
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May 14
North Korea premiers a newly developed intermediate range missile, Hwasong-12, which it says is designed to carry a heavy nuclear warhead. The North says the missile travelled 787km and reached a maximum altitude of 2,111km.
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May 21
North Korea conducts another test launch of the Pukguksong-2 and later declares the missile ready for mass production and operational deployment. The missile flew about 500km and reached a height of 560km before crashing into the sea.
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July 4
North Korea conducts its first flight test of an ICBM, the Hwasong-14, launching it in a highly lofted trajectory. North Korea says the supposedly nuclear-capable missile reached a height of 2,802km and flew 933km for 39 minutes before falling into the sea. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expresses delight at the successful test, saying that the United States would be displeased by the North's "package of gifts" delivered on the US Independence Day.
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July 28
North Korea conducts its second test of the Hwasong-14 ICBM, which it says reached a maximum height of 3,725km and travelled 998km before accurately landing in waters off Japan. Kim says the night launch displayed the country's ability to fire at "random regions and locations at random times" with the "entire" US mainland now within range.
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August 29
North Korea fires a Hwasong-12 intermediate range missile from its capital Pyongyang. It flew over Japan before plunging into the northern Pacific Ocean, a change from North Korea's pattern of firing missiles at highly lofted angles. South Korea's military says the missile travelled around 2,700km and reached a maximum height of 550km. Kim calls the launch a "meaningful prelude" to containing Guam and called for his military to conduct more tests targeting the Pacific Ocean.
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September 3
North Korea carries out its sixth and most powerful nuclear test to date, claiming it was a hydrogen bomb designed for use on ICBMs. It says the test was a "perfect success" and a further step in the development of weapons capable of striking anywhere in the United States.
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September 15
North Korea fires another Hwasong-12 missile over Japan into the Pacific. The missile flies about 3,700km, marking it the country's longest missile flight. Kim says his country is nearing its goal of "equilibrium" in military force with the US.
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November 29
South Korea's military said the latest missile fired from an area near Pyongyang travelled 960km and reached a height of 4,500km. This demonstrates a potential operational range of 13,000km, which would put Washington and all other parts of the continental US comfortably within reach, according to US analyst David Wright.
