"North Korea Likely Operated Yongbyon Nuclear Facility Multiple Times from Late Last Year to Early This Year"

Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun Reports Obtaining Draft of UN Panel Report on North Korea Sanctions

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported on the 6th that a United Nations report scheduled to be released in September suggests that North Korea may have operated the Yongbyon nuclear facility multiple times since December last year.

The newspaper stated that it obtained a draft panel report submitted to the UN Security Council's North Korea sanctions committee. According to the report, the draft contains an analysis of infrared images taken between December last year and February this year, indicating that North Korea may have conducted several tests on the Yongbyon experimental light-water reactor.

The draft reportedly also includes the statement that "external construction of the light-water reactor appears to be completed, and equipment installation is currently underway." However, it also concluded that the 5-megawatt (MW) reactor, which is the nuclear experimental facility, has not been operational since 2018.

Additionally, it was assessed that although imports of luxury goods through the border have been halted due to COVID-19, coal exports have continued. The report analyzed that between February and May this year, at least 410,000 tons of North Korean coal were exported 41 times to the Ningbo and Zhoushan regions of Zhejiang Province, China. However, the volume of oil imports remained at only 4-5% of the annual supply limit of 500,000 barrels set by the Security Council.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun also mentioned that the panel report containing these details is expected to be released, adding, "Some member states believe that North Korea has exceeded the Security Council's limits by importing oil through illegal ship-to-ship transfers and other means."

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