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UN suspects North Korea of activating a second nuclear reactor

Increased activity levels at the Yongbyon plant could indicate this, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Kim Jong Un, líder supremo de Corea del Norte,

Kim Jong-un (Cordon Press)

Published by
Alejandro Baños

The United Nations (UN) believes that North Korea has activated for the first time, a new nuclear reactor - the second it may have - at the Yongbyon plant, located north of the capital, Pyongyang. This could be a new sign of North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-un's eagerness to increase the scope -mainly in terms of weapons- that this type of energy can give his country.

Specifically, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a body integrated into the UN structure, discovered that the levels of activity in the light water reactor (LWR) of the Yongbyon power plant had intensified, which led it to believe that the North Korean regime had started up the reactor.

IAEA Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi, issued a statement explaining why the agency understands that Kim Jong-un has decided to activate his second nuclear reactor, even though he cannot confirm this due to his veto on entering the plant:

More recent observations indicate that this water discharge is warm, which is also consistent with ongoing commissioning of the LWR, a process that takes some time for any new reactor. However, the discharge of warm water is indicative the reactor has reached criticality.  It remains the case that without access to the facility the Agency cannot confirm its operational status.

Concern over possible activation

Grossi continued his writing by stating that the UN is uneasy about this possible move by North Korea's supreme leader because of the operational capability that this reactor would have. "The LWR, like any nuclear reactor, can produce plutonium in its irradiated fuel, which can be separated during reprocessing, so this is a cause for concern," he added.

Regarding safety, the director general assured that "we do not have sufficient information to make an assessment," as a result of his prevention of access to the nuclear power plant. He also warned the communist regime that the commissioning of this reactor "is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions," concluding that North Korea "fully complies with its obligations under Security Council resolutions."

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