[해외자료] Manpo Unha Factory Part 1: A Missing Piece in North Korea’s Nuclear Puzzle

...Among the chemicals reportedly supplied to Yongbyon is nitric acid, a crucial component to the chemical reprocessing campaigns conducted at Yongbyon’s Radiochemistry Laboratory for producing Plutonium-239 from spent fuel rods. Nitric acid also plays an essential role in the initial stages of the production of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) from yellowcake, which is used to produce highly enriched...

[해외자료] Manpo Unha Factory Part 1: A Missing Piece in North Korea’s Nuclear Puzzle

...Among the chemicals reportedly supplied to Yongbyon is nitric acid, a crucial component to the chemical reprocessing campaigns conducted at Yongbyon’s Radiochemistry Laboratory for producing Plutonium-239 from spent fuel rods. Nitric acid also plays an essential role in the initial stages of the production of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) from yellowcake, which is used to produce highly enriched...

[해외자료] North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Center: Plutonium Production Continues Despite Heavy Rains

...imagery of North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center from July 5, 2022 indicates that despite heavy rains over the past several weeks, the 5 MWe Reactor continues to produce plutonium for the country’s nuclear weapons program. Moreover, smoke is observed emitting from the Thermal (Steam) Plant at the Radiochemical Laboratory, which may signal early preparations for a forthcoming...

[해외자료] North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Center: Signs of Activity at the Radiochemical Laboratory Facilities

...operation again after a nearly two-year hiatus. Smoke was observed emanating from the plant’s smokestack at various times from late-February and early March, suggesting that preparations for spent fuel reprocessing could be underway to extract plutonium needed for North Korea’s nuclear weapons. However, this could also mean simply the facility is being prepped to handle radioactive waste.

[해외자료] North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Center: In Full Swing

Recent commercial satellite imagery of North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center indicates ongoing production of fissile material—both plutonium and enriched uranium—which is necessary for Kim Jong Un to achieve his statednuclear development goals...