Satellite imagery suggests ‘rapid’ upgrades at North Korea nuclear site and uranium enrichment, says monitoring group
The 38 North report says the satellite imagery leaves doubts about the Yongbyon reactor’s ‘operational status’, but it concludes that uranium enrichment appears to be in progress
North Korea appears to be enriching uranium at its nuclear research site, where improvements have progressed at a “rapid pace” in recent months, a monitoring group said in a report on Wednesday, but the level of current operations at the facility remains unclear.
Analysis of satellite images by the group 38 North, which closely follows North Korea affairs, offered a snapshot of the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre on June 21 – nine days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a declaration to “denuclearise” after the Singapore summit with US President Donald Trump.
The 38 North report said the satellite imagery leaves doubts about the Yongbyon reactor’s “operational status” because of reduced discharge of cooling water, steam emissions and other factors.
But it concluded that uranium enrichment appears to be in progress.
Despite the lack of conclusive details on Yongbyon’s operations, the report raises questions over whether Kim has taken steps to curb North Korea’s nuclear programme since the June 12 summit. It is also likely to bring new concerns from the Trump administration over how the North interprets the Singapore declaration.
North Korea has called for a “step-by-step” process of dismantling nuclear capabilities in exchange for rewards such as lifting international sanctions.