North Korea presumably re-launched a plutonium nuclear reactor in Jonbene, reports the Wall Street Journal newspaper with reference to the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
It is noted that from the beginning of July a number of signs appeared, allowing to suspect the operation of the reactor, for example, resetting cooling water. Thus, the DPRK can resume the production of nuclear weapons.
In the IAEA, they explained that plutonium production was discontinued from December 2018 until July 2021, while North Korea used the laboratory near the separation of radioactive substance from spent fuel.
Agency specialists stressed that the Actions of the DPRK “cause deep alarm” and violate the UN Security Council resolutions. The publication notes that Currently, US President Joe Biden is concerned about the situation in Afghanistan, rather than the negotiation with Pyongyan about nuclear weapons, while the country is ready to expand its arsenal.
In March 2021, the CEO of IAEA Rafael Grossi said that at the North Korean facility in the city of Kanson there are signs of produced by uranium enriched. He confirmed that the signs of relevant work were revealed. In other places that have become objects of verification – in particular at the subject in Jonbene, at that time such signs were not recorded.