Today in Korean history

Jan. 17

1981 -- The opposition Democratic Korea Party is launched.

1992 -- Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa offers an apology for Tokyo's 1910-45 colonization of the Korean Peninsula during his speech before the South Korean National Assembly.

2001 -- The Seoul government reveals it sought Washington's consent to allow it to develop and produce missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometers that can carry warheads weighing up to 500 kilograms. Under a 1979 accord with the United States, South Korea is barred from developing missiles with a range of over 180 km.

2005 -- South Korea declassifies more than 1,000 pages of decades-old sensitive documents regarding its diplomatic normalization with Japan in 1965. The declassification later spurred a series of compensation lawsuits by victims of Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule.

2008 -- The Constitutional Court dismisses President Roh Moo-hyun's petition to allow political comments by government officials before an election, upholding the legality of South Korea's election law.

2009 -- North Korea says it may retain nuclear weapons even after normalizing ties with U.S.
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