IAEA "Signs of Operation Continue at North Korea's Yongbyon Nuclear Facility Reactor"

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is attending the IAEA regular board meeting held in Vienna, Austria, on September 11 last year (local time). Director General Grossi stated that signs of activity continue to appear at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province, North Korea, and increased construction activities have been observed in various locations at the Yongbyon nuclear facility.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

It has been continuously observed that the experimental Light Water Reactor (LWR) at the Yongbyon nuclear facility in North Pyongan Province, North Korea, is undergoing test operation.

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated in his remarks at the regular board meeting held in Vienna, Austria, on the 5th (local time), "As mentioned in the update on North Korea's nuclear program that I announced last December, warm water discharged as coolant from the LWR at Yongbyon has been observed."

The LWR at the Yongbyon nuclear facility is known as a facility intended to increase the production of nuclear material used for manufacturing nuclear warheads by North Korea.

Director General Grossi explained, "The discharge of warm water through the LWR's cooling system is consistent with signs of test operation of the light water reactor," adding, "Since the announcement at the end of last year, the IAEA has observed strong leakage of coolant water from the Yongbyon LWR cooling system."

There have also been consistent indications that the 5 MW reactor within Yongbyon is operational.

He said, "The 5 MW reactor has shown signs of operation since early October last year," and added, "The centrifuge enrichment facility and its auxiliary facilities continue to be observed in operation."

In particular, Director General Grossi assessed that the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province, is "preparing for a new nuclear test."

He stated, "The operation of the Yongbyon nuclear facility and North Korea's nuclear program are clear violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which is regrettable," and added, "To implement the safeguards agreement under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), North Korea must promptly cooperate with the IAEA."