In the year 2016, North Korea conducted two nuclear tests: one in January and the other in September. Additionally, the country conducted several missile tests. As consequence, the United Nations Security Council adopted three resolutions against North Korea.
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See also: | Other events of 2016 Years in North Korea Timeline of Korean history 2016 in South Korea |
The 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea was held in May. In August North Korea took part in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, winning two gold, four silver, and two bronze medals.
The decision to deploy THAAD has, in fact, severely damaged relations between China and South Korea, countries that have generally seen eye to eye on the North Korean nuclear issue. When North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January 2016, China issued a statement strongly condemning the North.[2] Despite that, the ROK proceeded on February 7, 2016 to begin official consultations with the United States on THAAD deployment. China fought the proposal from the start, contending that the potential step would violate its security interests and disrupt the strategic balance. China regularly voiced its criticism of the prospective deployment in even stronger terms, expressing hope that it would be "relinquished," warning that it would "wreck" bilateral relations and linking it to a "sword dance by the US aiming at China." When the ROK ultimately decided to deploy the system, China immediately said it had "expressed its strong dissatisfaction with and resolute opposition to the decision."