1945 - Independence from Japan

1948 - Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) formally established

1950 - North Korea invades South Korea

1953 - Korean war ends in an armistice

1987 - Government food rations reduced following first cut in Soviet assistance

1991 - DPRK initiates a "Let's eat two meals a day" campaign

1994 - Kim Il-sung dies. Mortality rates are on the rise. Severe hailstorms

1995 - As food shortages worsen the DPRK asks for help from Japan and South Korea. First shipment leaves for DPRK in June

1995 - WFP begins operations in North Korea

Jul-Aug - Severe floods. DPRK says a fifth of the population is affected

Oct - DPRK signs a framework agreement with the U.S. to freeze its nuclear programme in exchange for two light-water nuclear reactors

1996 - More severe floods. Some 16 percent of arable land is destroyed in 1995/1996

1997 - Drought hits fertile west coast June to August

1998 - Kim Il-sung declared Eternal President

Aug - U.S. congressional team says famine has killed 300,000 to 800,000 people a year in past three years. U.N. food brought in to help famine victims

1998 - Kim Jong-il named head of state

2000 - The leaders of North and South Korea meet for first time in Pyongyang

2000 - Drought and serious tropical storms strike

2001 - North Korea says it's grappling with worst spring drought in its history

2002 - Piecemeal economic reforms. Unemployment rises, as do prices of staple foods

2003

Jan - North Korea withdraws from Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty aimed at preventing spread of atomic weapons. American officials say North Korea has told U.S. it has nuclear weapons and might test them or transfer them to other countries

2004 - DPRK cereal rations are 200-250g - half the recommended amount

2005

Aug - DPRK asks WFP to switch from humanitarian assistance to long-term development programmes

Sep - DPRK signs agreement to scrap its nuclear programmes in exchange for aid, security assurances and greater diplomatic recognition

Oct - Cereal rations raised to 500g

Nov - 19 food factories established by WFP are closed down

Dec - WFP pulls out amid disagreements over the monitoring of future aid

2006

May - WFP signs agreement with DPRK, paving the way for a reduced $102 million, two-year plan to help 1.9 million people

Jul - DPRK defies international warnings and test-fires seven missiles. The country is hit by major storms, causing floods that kill hundreds and displace tens of thousands

Aug - DPRK initially turns down offers of aid, but later accepts humanitarian assistance from South Korean Red Cross and WFP. The South Korean government suspends regular rice aid in protest at the missile tests

Oct 9 - North Korea says it has carried out a nuclear test, prompting condemnation from around the world, including key aid supplier China

Oct 14 - U.N. Security Council votes unanimously in favour of imposing sanctions in response to the nuclear test. International funding for relief programmes drops sharply, despite the fact the sanctions exclude humanitarian aid

Nov - Analysts and aid workers warn that North Korea is slipping back into a famine that could trigger a mass refugee exodus

Dec - U.N. agencies issue dire warnings for North Korea. They report that summer floods decimated domestic food production, placing an already vulnerable population at risk of rising malnutrition during the harsh winter months

2007

Feb - Six-nation talks in Beijing yield an agreement from Pyongyang to take steps towards nuclear disarmament in exchange for $300 million in energy aid

Mar - Seoul announces it plans to resume fertiliser shipments to North in time for spring sowing

North Korea admits to food shortages of a million tonnes. WFP warns millions are vulnerable to hunger in the absence of better donor support

Aug - The U.N. appeals for $15 million to deal with the aftermath of severe flooding, which it says killed more than 450 people and affected over 960,000

Oct - Leaders of the two Koreas hold second summit ever. They agree to seek talks with China and U.S. for a peace treaty

Nov - Prime ministers from both Koreas meet for first time in 15 years to discuss details of massive aid package to help rebuild impoverished North's infrastructure

Dec - The two Koreas start their first regular train service since the 1950-1953 war

2008

Early 2008 - New South Korean government ties further aid to Pyongyang's progress in nuclear disarmament

May - U.S. announces 500,000 tonnes of food aid

Jul - WFP expands operations. WFP and five aid agencies start overseeing delivery of U.S. aid after North Korea eases restrictions on their ability to monitor distribution