Located in Yongbyon, North Korea, the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center is one of several facilities in North Korea with the potential to produce fuel for nuclear weapons. Since a research reactor was built here in 1965 by the Soviet Union, it has been the center of atomic science in North Korea, employing 2000 people.
In late 2002 North Korea tampered with International Atomic Energy Agency seals and the monitoring cameras at the five megawatt reactors. These reactors were restarted in 2003, and their spent nuclear fuel reprocessed at the Radiochemistry Laboratory into plutonium for nuclear weapons.
The older Magnox-style reactor upgraded in 1974 to handle 80% enriched uranium is capable of creating in this manner about 5kg of plutonium per year.
The fabrication plant can process as much as 200-300 tons of uranium into fuel rods annually, which is enough to fully supply the reactor. The resulting plutonium combined with triggered spark gaps and some other stuff provide the capability to manufacture at least one nuclear weapon per year from raw materials, or up to five given the fuel rods known to be formerly stored on site.
Every year, a few more bombs, a bit more capacity. There are a number of larger, partially completed reactors in North Korea that may be brought online in the near future.
In addition there are several other secret types of nuclear enrichment programs in production as well, including gas-centrifuges in cooperation with Pakistan, according to Larry A. Niksch of the U.S. Congressional Research Service. Donald Rumsfeld apparently has his own research committee on this and they have their own frightening opinion.
"Pyongyang does not necessarily need to conduct a nuclear test as it can secure necessary blueprints through information acquired through the camp of Abdul Qadeer Khan, known as the father of Pakistan’s nuclear program. " chosun.com
They’re talking about something like an underground Oak Ridge hidden beneath a uranium mine.
On February 11, 2005, North Korea admitted to the world that it had nuclear weapons.
Voice of America reports that six-party talks with North Korea could begin again this month as Japan raises the issue at the Group of Eight (G8) Summit. The previous six-party talks, the third inconclusive round, were concluded in Beijing over a year ago.
Six party talks sounded like a lot of fun to me at first. If you didn’t get an invitation to these, don’t feel bad. The six parties in this case are North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia, and the United States. Five of the six are in agreement on this issue. Three of them are G8 nations.
What’s your opinion? Has North Korea been isolated by the international community for attempting to defend itself as a nation? Is North Korea the greatest threat to world security?
I love it…millions of North Koreans are slowly starving to death, the other millions are being supported by South Korea and their government is employing 2000 people in a nuclear facility. Nice.
Attempting to DEFEND itself? From what? South Korea invading with sandwiches? So, when North Korea develops nukes they are trying to defend itself. And when the US tries to develop a nuclear defense missile they seeking to strike without fear of retribution?
That’s precisely the point… you correctly assess North Korea’s nuclear program as an offensive weapons program, they assess our missle defense system and research into bunker-buster nukes for what it is– an escalation that enables a first-strike, an offensive weapon.
North Korea is playing with fire. The United States isn’t going to put up with this crap much longer. The country will be toast if they don’t back down.
Cool pics!
Whether or not North Korea is making good decisions on how to spend their money given the general conditions in the country, (At night it’s one of the darkest places on the planet), while one country has nuclear weapons and an admitted policy of a willingness to use them in a first strike capacity – others cannot be expected to put their deadly toys away – to the contrary in fact. I don’t trust George Bush with conventional weapons, so why should a country which is technically only in a cease-fire agreement with the US agree to disarm?
I’m a little sketchy too on what North Korea is trying to defend. It’s hungry population would probably welcome South Korea invading with sandwiches.
North Korea has no business playing with nuclear weapons. Well actually none of us do, strictly speaking, but especially NOT North Korea. Instead of spending countless millions figuring out how to destroy the planet, perhaps more focus could be sustained on how to preserve the planet.
You got some neat photos up there.
idiots. hey at least when the usa gets pissed with ‘em china south koreans can spread there sandwichy goodness over a much larger area!
oh, ignore the random china lol
The potential stresses would come at a time China’s Communist rulers are trying to maintain their own grip on power in the face of rapid social and economic change. A five-yearly Party Congress key to establishing a smooth leadership succession is expected in late 2007 and the 2008 Beijing Olympics are on the horizon.
But the government’s legitimacy is linked to its ability to deliver economic growth, a task that would be all the more challenging in the event North Korea implodes.
‘Harmonious society’ has been the catch-phrase of choice for Chinese President Hu Jintao, who has likely wagered that the consequences for China of a North Korean collapse are far greater than the kudos it might win for taking a tougher stance.
‘It is very difficult to chose for China, especially with domestic issues to think about,’ said Wang.
‘On the one hand, the Chinese government really wants to punish this kind of test, but at the same time, we don’t want the regime to collapse, or there will be big social and political problems for China.’
certenly..!! america is a agrission country. ok you can go on your though but don’t inclod the other country. then you will can see your power. that’s why north korea is enough for the america. again…. russia & china what is this…. ?? you know america..??