Concerns over North Korean nuclear activity

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon expressed concern yesterday about a United Nations report indicating possible reprocessing of nuclear fuel for bombs by North Korea.

United States IndoPacific command head of intelligence Rear Admiral Michael Studeman said North Korean activity highlighted this week by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could be intended to get the attention of the Biden administration and as a bargaining chip to press for sanctions relief.

‘‘We have our eye on this, and it is deeply concerning where North Korea wants to go,’’ Studeman said.

In a statement to the IAEA board on Tuesday, the UN body’s directorgeneral Rafael Mariano Grossi made reference to activity at North Korea’s Yongbyon and Kangson nuclear facilities.

He said there had been recent indications of operation of a steam plant that serves a radiochemical laboratory.

North Korea has used its radiochemical lab at Yongbyon to reprocess plutonium from a reactor there for nuclear bombs.

Grossi said North Korea’s continued nuclear activity was a clear violation of UN sanctions and ‘‘deeply regrettable’’.

A confidential UN report seen by Reuters last month said North Korea developed its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes throughout 2020.

38 North deputy director Jenny Towns said satellite images the monitoring project had received of Yongbyon from February 17 and March 2 showed steam coming from the laboratory there, which had not been known to be in operation for about two years.

‘‘It doesn’t necessarily mean that reprocessing has started, but it could be an indication of preparations for that,’’ she said. — Reuters