The History of U.S.–North Korea Relations Explained

From the Korean War in the 1950s to today’s missile tests and sanctions, U.S.–North Korea relations have swung between open conflict, stalled negotiations, and rare moments of diplomacy. Key events include the 1953 armistice, Cold War tensions, the failed 1994 Agreed Framework, the breakdown of Six-Party Talks, Donald Trump’s 2018 summit with Kim Jong-un, and ongoing disputes in the 2020s.