{ { Infobox military conflict
| conflict = 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis
| place = Korean PeninsulaSea of Japan
| partof = Inter-Korean conflict
| date = 12 March 1993 – 21 October 1994
| result = Agreed Framework signed between United States and North Korea Temporary suspension of North Korean nuclear weapons program Cessation of Team Spirit exercises | combatant1 = | combatant2 = | commander1 = Kim Il Sung (before 8 July 1994) Kim Jong Il (after 8 July 1994) | commander2 = Bill Clinton Kim Yong-sam | strength2 = US Army Pacific USAF PACAF US 7th Fleet USS Kitty Hawk CVW-15 USS Independence CVW-5 ROK Armed Forces | strength1 = Korean People's Army | image = A US Navy F-14 Tomcat is signaled to taxi and turn after making an arrested landing on the flight deck of USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) as part of the exercise. The KITTY HAWK, and its emb - DPLA - 68eb3ee9e12534303c2a8fd5ca45bb86.jpeg | caption = Flight Operations aboard the USS Kitty Hawk on 4 December 1994 | width = 320 }}
The 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis was a crisis on the Korean Peninsula, mainly revolving around North Korea's nuclear program. Largely caused by North Korea's announcement that it would withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1993 the tensions could have led to a war between North Korea and the US had not been for an agreement reached between Former President Jimmy Carter and then leader Kim Il Sung. It led to North Korea and the United States signing the Agreed Framework in October 1994, effectively ending the crisis.
Background
North Korea's involvement in the NPT dates back to December 1985, when it signed the treaty, around the same it built its first reactor. At the end of the Cold War in 1991, the United States removed all of its nuclear weapons that were based abroad including the last 100 or so of their tactical nuclear weapons from South Korea. Although initially criticizing the US, North Korea's response to this withdrawal changed when on November 26, North Korea stated it would allow US inspectors into its nuclear facilities if all of nuclear weapons were removed. Although IAEA inspectors were allowed to inspect some of these facilities, many were still closed off as North Korea claimed that they had military secrets, leading to suspicion that they were for a Nuclear weapons program. 1992 also saw the US and South Korea cancel the Team Spirit '92 joint exercises, although Team Spirit '93 would be held in February 1993.
Main tensions
1993
After months of disagreements over the 1991 inspection agreements, Pyongyang announced on 12 March 1993 that they would plan to pull out from the NPT Treaty. In response to this, Russia carried out minor economic sanctions against North Korea that it threatened as early as 1991. North Korea however reversed their decision after meeting with US diplomats in New York City. Pyongyang agreed to thus follow IAEA safeguards as well as allowing inspections at seven declared nuclear sites in the country. Relations between North Korea and the IAEA soon failed in September of that year and US and the IAEA warned North Korea. After pressuring for dialogue to resume between it and Pyongyang, in December, the US demands that the seven nuclear sites in North Korea be opened to inspectors.
1994
After promising inspections the previous year, beginning on 3 March 1994, IAEA inspectors were allowed for two weeks to inspect most of North Korea's nuclear facilities. The IAEA is however prevented from inspecting their main radiochemical facility, used for fuel reprocessing. On 17 March, The New York Times reports that the US had cancelled talks with the North and that Team Spirit '94 would be conducted. This was followed by the announcement of a shipment of Patriot SAM systems to South Korea on the 23rd. The 2nd Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery would later be replaced by a more permanent Patriot missile unit in the form of the 1st Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment in October 1994.