38 North: Signs of Operation at North Korea's Yongbyon Uranium Enrichment Plant

North Korea Yongbyon Nuclear Facility Complex [Image source= EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] An analysis has emerged indicating that North Korea continues to operate its uranium enrichment plant at the Yongbyon nuclear facility complex.

Three experts, including nuclear specialist Frank V. Pabian and satellite imagery analyst Jack Liu, wrote in an article for the U.S.-based North Korea-focused media outlet '38 North' on the 19th (local time) that satellite images of the Yongbyon nuclear complex from January to February this year suggest this. They stated that while the reactor within the Yongbyon complex remains non-operational, the uranium enrichment plant (UEP) appears to have been continuously operational throughout the winter. The reactor is known to produce plutonium, a material necessary for nuclear weapons development, while the UEP is a facility that produces enriched uranium.

Although detecting UEP operations via satellite imagery is difficult, they focused on the recurring activities observed around the site. Photographs captured special railcars with unique shapes arriving at and departing from the UEP. In the past, these railcars arrived 2 to 3 times a year at a transfer station located east of the UEP, transporting materials possibly chemical reagents, stayed for about four weeks, and then departed.

In contrast, the radiochemical laboratory, a reprocessing plant, showed only 1 to 2 vehicles and minimal activity aside from snow removal. Additionally, while vehicles were consistently observed around the 5-megawatt-electric (5MWe) reactor within the complex, there were no signs indicating that it had resumed operation, they analyzed. The experimental light water reactor (ELWR) also showed no notable activity.

Amid reports that the Yongbyon nuclear complex suffered flood damage last summer, they noted that most of the damage has been repaired. Efforts to stabilize water flow upstream and downstream of the breached dam continue, and construction of levees and waterways in nearby areas is underway to prevent future flood damage.