It is thought to have a small arsenal of atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles.
Advertisement
In an interview with the North’s official KCNA news agency, the director of the AEI, who was not named, said all facilities at the Yongbyon nuclear complex – including the five-megawatt reactor – had “started normal operations”. The North’s subsequent military skirmishes with the South, ballistic missile launches and third nuclear test have drawn increasing international sanctions.
DPRK is an acronym for the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“And I can assure you that all of these countries remain fixated on the need for North Korea to denuclearize with respect to its weapons program and to live up to its international obligations”, he said.
“South Korea and the United States are jointly watching for all possibilities”, ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told reporters.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest today condemned North Korea for its “irresponsible provocation” in announcing the resumption of activity at the Yongbyon Reactor, the main source of plutonium for their nuclear weapons program. As a result, just what is happening at Nyongbyon is unclear. Experts also think it is very likely that North Korea is operating secret uranium enrichment facilities in areas other than Yongbyon.
The latest nuclear and missile launch efforts could lead to calls for more international restrictions on North Korea. In 2013, it restarted a plutonium reactor that had been shuttered under a 2007 disarmament agreement. The claims were based on the satellite imagery of the massive plant.
At home, the North is planning a massive military parade to mark a key political anniversary on October 10, while Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities will feature high on the agenda of an expected summit later this month between the Chinese and US presidents.
“It may take more than sanctions with respect to North Korea because of its total absence of a legitimate economy”, Kerry said. The United States and its allies consider them covers for banned tests of long-range missiles.
A day ahead of the announcement, Pyongyang declared that it may soon launch a long-range rocket.
The former has been under development since 2009, and was initially said by North Korea to be designed to produce low-enriched uranium to fuel the planned experimental light water, which would in turn allow for increased electricity generation in the country. The North launched its first long-distance rocket in 1998. It is feared that North Korea is trying to carry out ballistic missile tests, which are forbidden according to U.N. security council resolutions.
North Korea has been following the same playbook for decades, noted the Monitor’s Editorial Board in late August: Provoke a crisis with South Korea or the US and then demand appeasement to restore a truce.
China also weighed in following the North’s announcement, with a Foreign Ministry representative commenting “U.N. Security Council resolutions should be followed through”.
Advertisement
But he said Pyongyang’s “almost total absence of a legitimate economy” meant that the same strategy may not work with North Korea.
