Signs of North Korea's Yongbyon Reactor Restart... Opposition: "Moon Administration Obsessed with Peace Show"

IAEA "North Korea Seems to Have Restarted Yongbyon Reactor"

A satellite image taken on the 27th showing the nuclear facility complex in Yongbyon, North Korea. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released an analysis suggesting that North Korea appears to have resumed plutonium production, the raw material for nuclear weapons, at the Yongbyon nuclear facility, presidential candidates from the People Power Party criticized on the 30th, "Is representing North Korea's interests 'Moon Jae-in-style security'?"

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, who declared his presidential bid, posted on his Facebook that day, directly asking, "When did President Moon Jae-in learn about the reactivation of North Korea's reactor?"

He said, "North Korea's peace-destroying actions are nothing new, but with this, the September 2018 Inter-Korean Pyongyang Joint Declaration, which promised conditional dismantlement of the Yongbyon nuclear facility, has been nullified," adding, "Despite concrete circumstances being presented, the Moon administration responded with a nonsensical answer claiming 'close ROK-US cooperation to continuously monitor North Korea's nuclear missile activities.'"

He continued, "Can we say that President Moon was unaware while monitoring North Korea's nuclear development under ROK-US cooperation?" and "The serious issue is that although signs of reactor reactivation were detected in early July, the Moon administration was engrossed in a peace show, heavily promoting the 'restoration of inter-Korean communication lines' and talking about inter-Korean summits at the end of July," he sharply criticized.

Yoo Seung-min, former lawmaker and presidential candidate of the People Power Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Furthermore, he raised his voice, saying, "If the Moon administration knew about the signs of North Korea's reactor reactivation but covered it up with the communication line restoration and inter-Korean aid show, this is no different from a constitutional violation that abandons the lives and safety of the people of the Republic of Korea," and "Is representing North Korea's interests while driving the people of the Republic of Korea into a deadly trap 'Moon Jae-in-style security'?"

Finally, he urged President Moon, "Immediately disclose to the public whether you were briefed on North Korea's reactor reactivation," adding, "If you knew and concealed it, it is a thorough deception of the public; if you did not know, it is severe incompetence."

Another People Power Party presidential candidate, former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, also criticized via Facebook, saying, "'The Korean Peninsula Peace Process,' which was a disguised peace show from the start, has been completely declared bankrupt."

He added, "It has been three years since the inter-Korean summit event ended, yet in this year's New Year's press conference, President Moon repeatedly claimed, 'I believe Chairman Kim has a clear will for peace, dialogue, and denuclearization,'" questioning, "Is operating the Yongbyon nuclear facility a sign of denuclearization will?"

Earlier, the IAEA stated in its 'September Annual Board of Governors Report on North Korea's Nuclear Program,' released on the 27th (local time), that "there were indications of reactor operation, including the release of cooling water, at the 5 MW (megawatt) reactor at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear facility in early last month."

The IAEA particularly assessed, "North Korea's nuclear activities continue to cause serious concern," and "Furthermore, new indications that the 5 MW reactor and the Radiochemical Laboratory are operational are a serious headache."

Regarding this, Lee Jong-joo, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, said at a regular briefing that day, "The government is continuously monitoring North Korea's nuclear missile activities under ROK-US cooperation," and "Based on this, we will continue efforts for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the establishment of lasting peace, and the development of inter-Korean relations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.