North Korea has started up new uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon, IAEA chief warns
The UN nuclear watchdog head underscored Pyongyang's continued advances in its nuclear program, calling them a "clear violation" of Security Council resolutions.
The United Nations nuclear watchdog detected signs that North Korea has begun operating a new uranium enrichment facility at its Yongbyon nuclear complex, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said during the agency's Board of Governors meeting on Monday.
The finding is based on an analysis of photographs published by North Korean state media last Wednesday, showing leader Kim Jong-un inspecting a “newly commissioned nuclear material production plant."
The images, depicting centrifuges and cascade systems, were "consistent" with the characteristics of a newly constructed building the IAEA has been tracking at Yongbyon.
“The continuation and further development of the DPRK’s nuclear program are clear violations of relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions and are deeply regrettable,” Grossi said.
The IAEA also provided a broader status update on North Korea's other nuclear activities.
Yongbyon's 5-megawatt reactor is continuing what the agency described as its seventh irradiation cycle for plutonium production, according to its analysis. The steam plant at the radiochemical laboratory — which handles the final stage before weapons-grade material is produced — was also found to have been in operation during April and May, though the IAEA said this was more likely for waste management or maintenance purposes.
The light-water reactor that was restarted late last year was confirmed to have been briefly shut down from mid-March to late April.
The Punggye-ri nuclear test site showed no unusual activity but remains in a state of readiness capable of conducting a nuclear test at any time, the IAEA said.
The press conference also touched on South Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines.
"As you know, in order to do that [acquire nuclear-powered submarines], countries that are party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty have to notify the IAEA, and for this to happen, there has to be a special arrangement with the IAEA," Grossi said.
And if the submarines are acquired, the most difficult nonproliferation challenge is the extended gaps in inspection coverage that arise when a submarine carrying highly enriched or low-enriched uranium fuel puts out to sea, making verification impossible while the vessel is on operations, he said.
"So we need to find technical ways to ensure that the amount of uranium that left harbor is the same when it comes to," he said. "It is going to take a long time precisely to ensure that there is no proliferation."
BY KO SEUNG-PYO [[email protected]]
