North Korea: Plutonium Extraction May Be Restarting, Institute Says
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Version 0 of 1. An American research institute reported Wednesday that North Korea might be preparing to reprocess spent nuclear fuel to extract weapons-grade plutonium at its main nuclear complex north of its capital, Pyongyang. The organization, the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University, reported on the website 38 North that recent commercial satellite imagery of the North’s Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center showed evidence of a lengthy reactor shutdown. It suggested fuel rods might have been removed from the reactor in preparation for extracting plutonium from the spent rods. Also on Thursday, North Korea warned that the recent vote at the United Nations to refer the North’s leaders to the International Criminal Court for prosecution for crimes against humanity left the country no option but to consider another nuclear test.. |