Recent satellite imagery analyzed by the U.S.-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) has revealed changes at the Yongbyon nuclear research facility in North Korea. Added together, the changes may indicate greater productive activity at the site.
An ISIS report on the satellite analysis released on December 5th shows images of steam emerging from the fuel fabrication complex at the site, which could imply the production of fuel for a 5MW Soviet-era research reactor on the site, as long as the building is still being used for its former purpose.
Moreover, it reveals that water is being discharged from “near” the reactor. Coupled to the evidence provided by the emergence of steam, this implies the possibility that the research reactor is currently operational. “The most likely explanation of the water discharge is that this water is used as part of a secondary cooling system to cool the carbon dioxide gas from the 5MW reactor core and its presence signifies testing or on-going operation of the 5MW reactor,” it asserts.
Meanwhile, the complex’s uranium enrichment plant, which is believed to be producing low enriched uranium for either a light water reactor under construction at the site or further enrichment to weapons-grade, continues to grow. Since July, the report points out, “North Korea has renovated an additional section of the old roof in the original building that appears to be part of the centrifuge plant.”
The report finally notes signs of construction and landscaping at an area adjacent to the centrifuge plant. However, satellite imagery is inconclusive in this regard. “A previously empty lot was cleared and converted in what seems to be a pool,” the report notes. “[However,] it is not clear if this activity is functionally related to the expansion of the centrifuge plant building or to the fabrication of fuel.”
The Yongbyon reactor was used to produce the nuclear materials employed in North Korea’s nuclear weapon tests in both 2006 and 2009. In April this year the North Korean atomic agency declared that it would restart the reactor at Yongbyon.
“We have decided that all nuclear facilities at Yongbyon including the uranium enrichment plant and the 5MW graphite reactor that was halted and mothballed in accordance with the Six-Party Talks agreement of October 2007, will be re-equipped and restarted,” a spokesperson for the General Department of Atomic Energy told the North Korean state news agency, adding that this is being done in accordance with the Byungjin Line.
