North Korea's new nuclear reactor sparks fresh concern

By Park Sae-jin Posted : January 15, 2016, 14:32 Updated : January 15, 2016, 14:50

[Courtesy of Xinhua News]


Recent satellite imagery shows North Korea's experimental light water reactor is "edging closer" to becoming operational, fuelling concerns it could be used to produce weapons-grade nuclear material or could pose a safety hazard, according to a US research institute.

New developments in the construction of the reactor at North Korea's main Yongbyon nuclear complex included the completion of two channels feeding water for its cooling system and the completion of the reactor's electric transformer yard, the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said on its website, 38 North.

It's difficult to predict when construction will be completed as it still remains unclear whether the nuclear-armed North has succeeded in fabricating the fuel assemblies necessary to power the reactor, 38 North said.

It said that should the reactor become operational, it would be a significant development for North Korea because it could not only provide electricity for civilian purposes, but also produce fissile material for nuclear weapons.

The reactor "may also pose a safety hazard given concerns about its design and the North's lack of experience in operating such a facility," 38 North said.

The Yongbyon complex has a graphite-moderated reactor which allows North Korea to acquire fissile material for nuclear bombs by reprocessing weapons-grade plutonium.

Since 2010, North Korea has been building the light water reactor in Yongbyon. Despite repeated denials by Pyongyang, experts suggest the new reactor could give North Korea another source of fissile materials to build nuclear weapons.

North Korea’s nuclear program grabbed global attention after Pyongyang announced on January 6 that it successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb that marked its fourth nuclear test since 2006.

Charles Lim
 
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