31 August 2021

North Korea appears to have restarted nuclear reactor at Yongbyon, says IAEA

by Gabriel Dominguez & Lewis Smart

North Korea appears to have restarted the reactor at its plutonium-producing 5 MWe Yongbyon Experimental Nuclear Power Plant, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a 27 August report, noting that Pyongyang's nuclear activities “continue to be a cause for serious concern”.

In the report, which covers developments on North Korea's nuclear programme since September 2020, the IAEA noted that while no signs of reactor operation had been observed since early December 2018, there have been indications “consistent with the operation of the reactor”, including the discharge of cooling water, since early July.

North Korea appears to have restarted the reactor at its plutonium-producing 5 MWe Yongbyon Experime...

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