Posted on 03/02/2021 4:53:12 AM PST by AmericanInTokyo
SEOUL (THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Signs of activity have recently been detected at some North Korean nuclear facilities, the United Nations nuclear watchdog chief has said, expressing serious concern at the reclusive regime's continued activities.
Mr Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told the board of governors that there was evidence that the regime has continued construction at an experimental light-water reactor at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex, including testing of the infrastructure for cooling water in late 2020.
He added that while there were no signs of producing enriched uranium at the reported centrifuge enrichment facility at Yongbyon, there are ongoing indications of activity at another facility in Kangson, just outside of Pyongyang.
The Kangson site has long been suspected as the regime's clandestine facility for uranium enrichment, or fuel for nuclear bombs. But 38 North, a US-based North Korean monitoring website, reported in December that Kangson may not be a uranium enrichment plant, but is dedicated to producing related components for enriching uranium.
Mr Grossi said there were no signs of operations at the Yongbyon complex's 5-megawatt nuclear reactor - the country's main source of weapons-grade plutonium - and of enriched uranium production at the reported centrifuge enrichment facility there. But there were indications of operating the stream plant that serves the radiochemical laboratory.
Mr Grossi stressed that the North's nuclear activities remain a cause for serious concern.
"The continuation of the DPRK's nuclear programme is a clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolution and is deeply regrettable," he said on Monday (March 1), using the acronym for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's formal name.
"I call upon the DPRK to comply fully with its obligations under Security Council resolutions, to cooperate promptly with the Agency in the full and effective implementation of its NPT Safeguards Agreement and to resolve all outstanding issues," he said, referring to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
Pyongyang expelled IAEA inspectors in 2009, and since then the agency has monitored the country's nuclear programme through open-source information and satellite imagery. North Korea's last and largest nuclear test was in 2017, when it claimed to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb.
Meanwhile, the newly minted US Ambassador to the UN said on Monday that North Korea continues to pose a serious threat to peace and security for the world, and that the US will keep pressing the regime for denuclearisation.
"We do believe that North Korea constitutes a serious threat to our peace and security and to the globe. And so we have a vital interest in trying to deter North Korea towards that goal, and also in defending against its provocations or use of force," Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said during her first press conference.
"President Biden has made clear that we're going to engage in a principled diplomacy, together with our allies and partners, and we will keep pressing toward a denuclearised North Korea."
(Come to think of it, at CPAC recently I totally failed to see if they had the 'Kim-Trump North Korea Denuclearization and Human Rights Status Report: Four Years On' Breakout Session. Kind of disappointed about that, frankly)
I’m surprised rocket man hasn’t already been launching a few by now.
Norks been doing low yield nuke testing for the past two years now they now have told all foreign diplomats to leave immediately supposedly due to do Covid restrictions.
I look for them to conduct an SLBM this month with their new long range IBCM prototype to be tested in April in honor of Kim Il Sang’s birthday (The day of Sun) AIT, do you see them doing an underground nuke tests first with others to follow?
Ping
He's been launching them like crazy, starting in May 2019 after Hanoi Summit imploded and (Steve Beigun-led) Sweden talks ended in complete failure.
Something like 18 of them, by my count. All working on, and succeeding, in upgrading SRBM telemetry, azimuth, trajectory variability to defeat THAAD defenses in the ROK/US Forces Korea -- per recent report. IRBM and ICBM likely coming in the next three or four months, though. Pompeo is silent on these things and storms off the stage when pressed in media appearances. I'd run w/ tail between legs if I had to do that, too.
LIGHTEN UP, FRANCIS!
“I’m surprised rocket man hasn’t already been launching a few by now.”
China is really, really upset. When the abuser in the abusive family is on a tear, the abused try to make themselves inconspicuous.
At the end of March is the earliest opportunity for the Chinese to cross the Taiwan strait.
The satellite image I would be interested in is the loading docks and logistics areas needed to support an invasion.
China has corralled every visiting North Korean official and given them a presentation concerning their under ground test facility. It is threatening to collapse and the prevailing winds will send a Chernobyl style cloud over the nearby Chinese city. So, it’s unlikely the North will test a weapon. As for launching a missile while the angry Chinese are preparing to invade...probably not.
Actually, a launch will probably signal that there is no invasion planned.
If you have something definitive to add to this discussion, or perhaps to challenge in the way of the facts here with sources you can cite, fine, otherwise this is a serious news thread, so if that isnt your cup of tea, then.....
Kim knows Biden is a pushover.
Trump is out of the White House and a feeble minded old marxist goat is in it. NK will do something it would never have dared to do under Trump and one finger joe will do nothing.
It is good to know there has been continuity in that regard, then.
“If you have something definitive to add to this discussion, or perhaps to challenge in the way of the facts here with sources you can cite, fine, otherwise this is a serious news thread, so if that isnt your cup of tea, then.....”
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To quote “AmericanInTokyo”...
“...Pompeo is silent on these things and storms off the stage when pressed in media appearances. I’d run w/ tail between legs if I had to do that, too.”
So, if you can provide a link showing where Pompeo “storms off stage...w/tail between legs” please do so. Otherwise lay off the anti-Pompeo, anti-Trump verbiage. That would fit in better on DemocRAT Underground and Twitter. Perhaps “10% for the big guy” Biden will be more YOUR cup of tea on this “serious news thread”.
I am surprised that it took this long. All of America’s enemies must test the basement big brother.
Storen won’t build for me beachflont condos. So brow up Tokyo. So ronery.
You are free to Google “Pompeo, State Department briefing, North Korea” in the 2019 timeline, under “video” and I will guarantee you will see it. One of the most thin skinned persons I’ve seen go up against the press. Do your own homework.
Another four years of useless, unnecessary, endless war and death.
The war party (and its GOPe sycophants) are back in charge...
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