Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Raphael Grossi
The Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, reported that North Korea is showing signs of operating a thermal plant being used to provide heat for a nuclear fuel rods reprocessing facility.
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This came in an indication that North Korea may try to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons.
Raphael Grossi gave a briefing of the indications at the Yongbyon complex, north of the capital, Pyongyang, describing North Korea’s ongoing nuclear program as “extremely regrettable.”
On uranium enrichment activities in North Korea, the Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency pointed out that “there are no indications of production at the main Yongbyon facility,” while he pointed to “indications of activity at another nuclear site in Kang Son, in the suburbs of Pyongyang.” .
Grossi said that “there are recent indications of the operation of the steam station that serves the radiochemical laboratory,” stressing that “the nuclear activities of North Korea are still a cause of great concern.”
“The continuation of North Korea’s nuclear program is a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, and it is extremely regrettable,” he added.
Raphael Grossi called on Pyongyang to “abide by the United Nations Security Council resolutions against programs of weapons of mass destruction,” and said, “I call on North Korea to fully comply with its obligations under Security Council resolutions, and to cooperate expeditiously with the agency in the full and effective implementation of the safeguards agreement.” The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and resolving all outstanding issues.
The Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency did not report any indications of operations at the 5-megawatt nuclear reactor at the Yongbyon complex and the production of enriched uranium at the centrifugal enrichment facility reported there.
Source: “Yonhap”
