IAEA Secretary General: "North Korea's Nuclear Activities Continue, Clearly Violating UN Security Council Resolutions"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed regret over North Korea's continued nuclear activities and strongly criticized them as a clear violation of United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions.

According to foreign media including Voice of America (VOA), on the 14th (local time), Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General, stated in his opening speech at the council meeting, "Over the past year, there have been signs consistent with enriched uranium production at the centrifuge enrichment facility in Yongbyon, North Korea," adding, "North Korea's continued nuclear activities are a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions and are very regrettable." He further urged, "North Korea must fully comply with its obligations under Security Council resolutions and promptly cooperate with the IAEA for the full and effective implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) safeguards agreement."

Earlier, in the annual report released on the 2nd, the IAEA noted that vehicles were observed moving at the nuclear fuel rod manufacturing plant in Yongbyon and cooling devices were operating, suggesting that North Korea produced enriched uranium using centrifuges. The report also raised the possibility that uranium enrichment might be occurring in Kangson near Pyongyang. However, the IAEA added that there were no signs that North Korea reprocessed spent fuel to extract plutonium during the same period.

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