According to a South Korean news report citing a government source, North Korea has temporarily halted the operation of its nuclear reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear complex. The purpose behind this suspension is believed to be the extraction of plutonium from spent fuel rods, which could potentially be used for weapons. US and South Korean authorities have been assessing the situation and note that reprocessing work may be underway to obtain weapons-grade plutonium from the reactor.
Reprocessing spent fuel rods is a necessary step in the extraction of plutonium. The Yongbyon nuclear complex is North Korea’s primary source of plutonium, which has likely been used for the production of nuclear weapons. The country also possesses uranium enrichment facilities that could serve as another source of material for nuclear weapons. Donga Ilbo, the newspaper reporting on the situation, quotes a senior government official who suggests that a nuclear test by North Korea cannot be ruled out, although no further details are provided regarding the analysis supporting this assessment.
As of now, the South Korean foreign ministry and defense ministry have not commented on this specific report. It is worth mentioning that North Korea has previously suspended and resumed the operation of its nuclear reactor, and the exact purpose of such suspensions is typically unknown, whether they are for maintenance or fuel extraction.
Although North Korea claims to be a nuclear state, the exact number of nuclear weapons it possesses remains undisclosed. Independent estimates, however, suggest that the country may have as much as 70 kg of plutonium, enough to build 20 or more weapons. With the country having conducted six underground nuclear tests, concerns have been growing since last year that it may conduct another test as part of its effort to develop miniaturized nuclear warheads.
Last week, North Korea’s parliament adopted a constitutional amendment on its policy regarding the use of nuclear force. Additionally, leader Kim Jong Un has been increasingly urging the country to enhance the production and diversification of its nuclear capabilities.
Source: Reuters
Image: The Star Online
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