New fears on North Korean effort to extract plutonium for weapons

NORTH KOREA may be trying to extract plutonium to make more nuclear weapons at its main atomic complex, recent satellite photos indicated, weeks after leader Kim Jong Un vowed to expand his nuclear arsenal.

The 38 North website, which specialises in North Korea studies, cited the imagery as indicating a coal-fired steam plant at the North’s Yongbyon nuclear complex is in operation after a hiatus of around two years.

Smoke was observed emanating from the plant’s smokestack at various times from late February and early March.

This suggests “preparations for spent fuel reprocessing could be underway to extract plutonium needed for North Korea’s nuclear weapon,” the website said.

But it added that “this could also mean simply the facility is being prepped to handle radioactive waste”.

Earlier this week, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Rafael Mariano

Grossi said some nuclear facilities in North Korea continued to operate, citing the operation of the steam plant that serves the radiochemical laboratory at Yongbyon. The laboratory is a facility where plutonium is extracted by reprocessing spent fuel rods removed from reactors.

“The DPRK’s nuclear activities remain a cause for serious concern. The continuation of the DPRK’s nuclear program is a clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and is deeply regrettable,” Mr Grossi told the IAEA’s board of governors, according to the body’s website. DPRK refers to North Korea’s official name, the Democratic

People’s Republic of Korea. Plutonium is one of the two key ingredients to build nuclear weapons along with highly enriched uranium. The Yongbyon complex has facilities to produce both ingredients. It is not clear how much weapons-grade plutonium has been produced at Yonbyong and where North Korea stores it.