CNN "Signs of Expansion of Highly Enriched Uranium Production Facility at North Korea's Yongbyon Nuclear Site"

View of North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear facility captured by commercial satellite company Maxar [Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] On the 16th (local time), the U.S. CNN reported that there are signs North Korea is expanding facilities at the Yongbyon nuclear site to produce highly enriched uranium, which can be used as material for nuclear weapons.

Images taken earlier this week by commercial satellite company Maxar captured construction work underway at the uranium enrichment plant within the Yongbyon nuclear complex.

Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in the U.S., told CNN in an interview that once construction is completed, North Korea could increase production of weapons-grade nuclear material by as much as 25%.

Lewis stated, "Recent expansions at Yongbyon reveal plans to increase nuclear material production for weapons." He added that the current construction is consistent with previous efforts to expand floor space to accommodate more centrifuges to increase annual uranium enrichment capacity.

Lewis explained, "The new area is approximately 1,000 square meters, enough space to house an additional 1,000 centrifuges," adding, "An additional 1,000 centrifuges would increase the uranium enrichment plant's capacity to produce highly enriched uranium by 25%."

CNN cited two sources saying U.S. officials are aware of recent activities at the uranium enrichment plant. The officials acknowledge that this development could signal plans to increase production of weapons-grade uranium. However, CNN reported that the White House National Security Council (NSC), Department of Defense, Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) all declined to provide official comments.

Highly enriched uranium, along with plutonium, can be used as material for nuclear warheads.

Siegfried Hecker, senior research scholar at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation and a North Korea nuclear expert, estimates that North Korea already possesses 20 to 60 nuclear weapons made from plutonium and highly enriched uranium.

Earlier, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) pointed out changes at the 5MW (megawatt) reactor and radiochemical laboratory within the Yongbyon nuclear complex in its annual report published on the 27th of last month. When spent fuel rods from the 5MW reactor are reprocessed at the radiochemical laboratory, plutonium is extracted. The Yongbyon nuclear complex is one of North Korea's key facilities used in its nuclear weapons development program.

The U.S.-based North Korea specialist media 38 North also reported changes at the uranium enrichment facility on the same day.

According to an article released by 38 North based on analysis of commercial satellite images taken in August and September, the cooling unit on the rooftop of an annex next to the cascade hall (a facility where multiple centrifuges are connected for continuous enrichment) at the Yongbyon uranium enrichment plant was removed between August 25 and September 1.

38 North argued that proper air conditioning and system cooling are essential for maintaining a certain temperature inside the cascade hall during uranium enrichment, stating, "If there are no alternative cooling methods, it is unlikely that the uranium enrichment plant is currently operational." The outlet noted that it remains to be seen whether the cooling unit will be replaced or relocated.

Earlier, Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General, said at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting on the 13th that North Korea appears to have removed cooling equipment from the Yongbyon centrifuge enrichment facility recently. This has been interpreted as a sign that the uranium enrichment plant, which had been inactive until recently, may be restarting operations.

38 North stated, "The purpose of the equipment removal is unclear," suggesting it could be part of efforts to improve the cooling system.

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