No signs of operation at nuclear reactors in Yongbyon, 38 North

By Lim Chang-won Posted : February 25, 2019, 18:17 Updated : February 25, 2019, 18:17

[Courtesy of the Defense Ministry]


SEOUL -- Satellite imagery revealed no obvious indications that a five-megawatt reactor and an experimental light water reactor at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear complex are in operation, according to 38 North, the website of a U.S. research institute.

The nuclear complex has been at the center of attention since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed to push for denuclearization at talks between Pyongyang and Washington. The five-megawatt reactor in the complex has been used to extract weapons-grade plutonium.

Satellite imagery from February 11 and 21 showed no indicators that the reactor is operating, 38 North said. "There is no steam venting from the generator hall, nor is there any hot water effluent at the cooling water outfall pipe."

The last time such activity was observed in November 2018, when a small outfall was noted, probably due to the transfer of residual heat from previous reactor operations, the website said.

The continued movement of vehicles and personnel around the reactor has been spotted over the last few weeks with roads swept clean, showing that the reactor site has been well maintained, 38 North said, adding that dredging continues near the reactor’s secondary cooling system, where piles of dredged material now effectively block the river channel that serves the system’s pump house.

There were no indications that the light water reactor has been operating, but satellite imagery showed the continued movement of vehicles and personnel around it, according to 38 North.

 
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