New
York Times: Satellite images have revealed that North Korea
is making progress in the construction of a new nuclear reactor
at its main nuclear facility in Yongbyon.
The most recent images, from 6 August,
show that a 21-m dome has been added to the reactor
building. According to North Korean leaders, the reactor
is a domestically designed light-water reactor. Yongbyon is
also the site of a centrifuge enrichment plant, unveiled in
2010, that can be used to convert spent nuclear fuel into
weapons-grade plutonium. North Korea is currently believed to
have enough plutonium for at least a half-dozen weapons. Based
on the rate of construction of the new reactor, it will be
several years before it is complete, but analysts believe that
the country could resume plutonium production by 2015 or
2016.
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© 2012 American Institute of Physics
Construction progress seen on North Korean nuclear reactor Free
22 August 2012
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/PT.5.026276
Content License:FreeView
EISSN:1945-0699
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