US arms control experts say North Korea has resumed construction of a second reactor at its controversial Yongbyon nuclear complex after a long hiatus. Expert Jeffrey Lewis wrote on Twitter that he could not say when the reactor could start operating. “But it’s ten times the size of the existing reactor at Yongbyon — and would produce ten times the plutonium for nuclear weapons.”
A few days ago, Lewis along with his colleagues Joshua Pollack and David Schmerler of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) published a report on the activities in Yongbyon. CNS conducts research in the field of nuclear non-proliferation.
North Korea has constructed a pipeline connecting the 50-megawatt reactor’s secondary cooling circuit, called “Nuclear Plant Number 2,” to a pumping station in a nearby river to access water for cooling, the report said. The line was buried on May 7. This is a “first clear indication that North Korea plans to complete the reactor”.
55 kilograms of plutonium for weapons per year
The researchers estimate that, once operational, the reactor can produce 55 kilograms of weapons-grade plutonium per year — about ten times as much as the old 5-megawatt reactor. North Korea’s interest in more plutonium appears to reflect its intention to develop new tactical nuclear weapons.
North Korea has been at odds with the international community for years over its nuclear weapons program. The country is subject to severe UN sanctions as well as individual sanctions from the US and its allies.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
