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| North Korea Yongbyon nuclear site 'in operation' | North Korea Yongbyon nuclear site 'in operation' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| North Korea says its main nuclear facility, the Yongbyon complex, has resumed normal operations. | North Korea says its main nuclear facility, the Yongbyon complex, has resumed normal operations. |
| The country was improving its nuclear weapons "in quality and quantity", state-run news agency KCNA reported. | The country was improving its nuclear weapons "in quality and quantity", state-run news agency KCNA reported. |
| Yongbyon's reactor was shut down in 2007 but Pyongyang vowed to restart it in 2013, following its third nuclear test and amid high regional tensions. | Yongbyon's reactor was shut down in 2007 but Pyongyang vowed to restart it in 2013, following its third nuclear test and amid high regional tensions. |
| The reactor has been the source of plutonium for North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. | The reactor has been the source of plutonium for North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. |
| Experts believe that if re-started, the reactor could potentially make one bomb's worth of plutonium per year. | Experts believe that if re-started, the reactor could potentially make one bomb's worth of plutonium per year. |
| Pyongyang has also announced plans to launch a long-range rocket carrying a satellite - something outsiders have described as a military rocket test. | |
| Correspondents say the latest announcements do not mean the North has long-range missile capabilities - but do show that Pyongyang has ambitions to achieve this. | |
| The announcement about Yongbyon is the first official confirmation from North Korea that it has restarted operations there. | |
| A US think-tank said earlier this year that satellite images suggested that work had commenced at the plant. | |
| Rocket launch plans | Rocket launch plans |
| KCNA also said on Tuesday that the North was ready to face US hostility with "nuclear weapons any time". | KCNA also said on Tuesday that the North was ready to face US hostility with "nuclear weapons any time". |
| However, the full scope of North Korea's nuclear capabilities is unclear. | However, the full scope of North Korea's nuclear capabilities is unclear. |
| Pyongyang claims it has made a device small enough to fit a nuclear warhead on to a missile, which it could launch at its enemies. | Pyongyang claims it has made a device small enough to fit a nuclear warhead on to a missile, which it could launch at its enemies. |
| However, US officials have cast doubt on this claim and experts say it is difficult to assess the progress North Korea has made on miniaturisation. | However, US officials have cast doubt on this claim and experts say it is difficult to assess the progress North Korea has made on miniaturisation. |
| Yongbyon nuclear complex | Yongbyon nuclear complex |
| The announcements come ahead of the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party on 10 October, which North Korea is planning to mark with a parade. | |
| North Korea has made threats against its neighbours and the US before, often to coincide with annual joint military exercises held by South Korea and US forces. | |
| The two Koreas remain technically at war, because the 1950-1953 war ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. | |
| China, which is North Korea's main ally and trading partner, said on Tuesday that it hoped "relevant parties" would respond with "caution and refrain from taking actions that may elevate tension". |