IAEA: "North Korea Likely Restarted Yongbyon Nuclear Facility in Early July... Signs of Cooling Water Discharge" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 29th (local time), citing an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, that North Korea appears to have restarted its Yongbyon nuclear facility in early last month.

According to WSJ, the IAEA stated in a recent report that "since early July, there have been several signs such as the release of cooling water from the reactor," assessing that North Korea has resumed operation of the plutonium reactor at Yongbyon.

If this assessment in the report is accurate, it is estimated that the Yongbyon reactor has resumed operation after about two and a half years since December 2018. WSJ predicted that the restart of North Korea's Yongbyon reactor could pose a new challenge to the diplomatic policy of the Joe Biden administration.

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