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Satellite pix suggest N. Korea reactor shut down: US think-tank
by Staff Writers
Seoul (AFP) Oct 04, 2014


Recent satellite images suggest North Korea may have shut down the nuclear reactor seen as its main source of weapons-grade plutonium, a US think-tank said Saturday.

The Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said any shutdown could be for either partial refuelling or renovation.

North Korea mothballed the five-megawatt reactor at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex in 2007 under an aid-for-disarmament accord, but began renovating it after its last nuclear test in 2013.

Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna said satellite photos showing steam discharges and cooling water outflows suggested the reactor was operational.

But the ISIS report said that in the latest images "both these signatures are missing," suggesting the reactor had been "partially or completely shut down."

When operational, the reactor is capable of giving North Korea, which has carried out three nuclear tests, six kilos (13 pounds) of plutonium a year -- enough for one nuclear bomb, experts say.

ISIS said the reason for the apparent shutdown was unclear.

"It is possible that North Korea is carrying out a partial refuelling of the reactor's core ... (or) has shut down the reactor for maintenance or renovation," it said.

IAEA inspectors have not had access to North Korea since being kicked out in 2009.

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North Korea has invited a Japanese envoy to Pyongyang to hear details of its investigation into the Cold War kidnappings of Japanese citizens, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday. Tokyo announced in July it was easing sanctions against Pyongyang, following its promise to reinvestigate the cases of the abductees. During their latest talks in China on Monday, the North Korean side said ... read more


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