Photos show North Korea may be trying to extract plutonium

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By HYUNG-JIN KIM

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea may be trying to extract plutonium to make more nuclear weapons at its main atomic complex, recent satellite photos indicated, weeks after leader Kim Jong Un vowed to expand his nuclear arsenal.

The 38 North website, which specializes in North Korea studies, cited the imagery as indicating that a coal-fired steam plant at the North’s Yongbyon nuclear complex is in operation after about a two-year hiatus. Smoke was observed emanating from the plant’s smokestack at various times from late February and early March.

This suggests “preparations for spent fuel reprocessing could be underway to extract plutonium needed for North Korea’s nuclear weapon,” the website said Wednesday. But it added that “this could also mean simply the facility is being prepped to handle radioactive waste.”

Earlier this week, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said some nuclear facilities in North Korea continued to operate, citing the operation of the steam plant that serves the radiochemical laboratory at Yongbyon. The laboratory is a facility where plutonium is extracted by reprocessing spent fuel rods removed from reactors.



This Tuesday, March 2, 2021 satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a steam plant, left, and North Korea’s main atomic complex, right, in Yongbyon, North Korea. Smoke was observed emanating from the plant’s smokestack at various times from late February and early March. North Korea may be trying to extract plutonium to make more nuclear weapons at the complex, recent satellite photos indicated, weeks after leader Kim Jong Un vowed to expand his nuclear arsenal. (Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-north-korea-united-nations-nuclear-weapons-f01c79c4c7ab26520ad7c0f97e19b1ff

[Throck]

1. Someone really needs to get a hobby up in N. Korea.

Not so good at farming, let's make weapons of mass destruction.................

[DVDGuy]

2. Diplomatic blunder

Former Guy gave NK the thing they wanted most, international recognition and equal status with the US, by granting them a face to face meeting without getting anything back in return. It has solidified their hold on their people and they have nothing to gain now by even coming to the negotiating tables with the US.

It's going to take a long time to undo all the damage Former Guy did in his short time at the White House.

[movingviolation]

3. Be a shame if the complex blew up.

Bad stuff happens when you don't know what you're playing with. This looks like a perfect chance for an "accident." God I hope someone in M.I. sees the opportunity. We shouldn't be held hostage by totalitarian creeps with daddy issues.

[myohmy2]

4. need to check it out...

...send trump to talk to his good friend kimmy to find out what's happening...

...when trump returns, what ever he says, we conclude the opposite...

...we can't be too careful...