TIMELINE: Steps forward and backward in North Korea drama

(Reuters) - China said North Korea will hand over a long-delayed account of its nuclear activities on Thursday, a possible breakthrough step called for in a February 2007 disarmament-for-aid deal.

Here are some previous milestones over the past decade-and-a-half of talks on the North's denuclearization.

* October 21, 1994: President Bill Clinton's U.S. administration signs an Agreed Framework with North Korea to freeze its nuclear program in exchange for aid, including two relatively proliferation-resistant nuclear reactors.

* October 2002: U.S. State Department envoy James Kelly confronts Pyongyang with evidence Washington says points to a covert uranium enrichment program.

* December 2002: North Korea says it plans to restart Yongbyon reactor, disables the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) surveillance devices there and expels the agency's inspectors.

* January 2003: Pyongyang quits nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

* August 2003: First round of six-party talks between North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States, in Beijing. North Korea threatens to test nuclear bomb and test-fire new missile.

* February 2004: Father of Pakistani nuclear bomb, scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, admits he passed uranium-linked technology to Libya, Iran and North Korea. Pyongyang calls confession a lie.

* February 2005: North Korea officially says for the first time it has nuclear weapons, adding it is quitting six-party talks.

* September 2005: Six parties issue joint statement after months of deadlock. North Korea promises to give up nuclear arms program in exchange for aid and better diplomatic standing.

* July 2006: North Korea test-fires seven missiles from its east coast, including the long-range Taepodong-2.

* October 9, 2006: North Korea explodes first nuclear device.

* February 13, 2007: North Korea agrees to start shutting its reactor and allow U.N. nuclear inspectors back into country in exchange for aid, the first step in a new disarmament deal.

* June 14: Transfer begins of North Korean funds frozen at a Macau bank that Pyongyang demanded return of before it starts shutting reactor.

* June 20: Chief U.S. nuclear envoy Chris Hill flies to Pyongyang, becoming the most senior State Department official to visit the communist state since 2002.

* July 16: International inspectors confirm North Korea has shut down Yongbyon, the International Atomic Energy Agency says.