VIENNA, Dec 22 (Reuters) – A new reactor at North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear complex appears to be operating for the first time, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday.
North Korea has for years used spent fuel from a light water reactor located at Yongbyon to produce plutonium for its nuclear arsenal. The release of hot water from a larger reactor, however, appears to indicate that it is also operating, the IAEA said.
“The release of hot water indicates that the reactor has reached nuclear criticality,” Rafael Grossi, director general of the IAEA, said in a statement, meaning that the nuclear chain reaction in the reactor is self-sustaining.
The IAEA has been unable to visit North Korea since Pyongyang expelled its inspectors in 2009. The agency’s observations now rely mainly on satellite images. Without access, the IAEA cannot confirm the operational status of the reactor, Rafael Grossi said.
The IAEA says it has observed a strong flow of water from the light water reactor’s cooling system since October, suggesting that commissioning of the reactor is underway. More recent indications were that the water was warm, Rafael Grossi said.
“The light water reactor, like any other nuclear reactor, can produce plutonium in its spent nuclear fuel which can be separated during reprocessing, which is therefore a cause for concern,” he said, adding that the The progress of North Korea’s nuclear program was “deeply regrettable.”
(Reporting François Murphy in Vienna and Josh Smith in Seoul; French version Camille Raynaud)
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