IAEA: "Signs of Activity Continue at Punggye-ri Tunnel 3... No Unusual Movements at Tunnel 4"

Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General
[Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that there are still signs of activity in Tunnel No. 3 at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site, but no unusual movements have been observed in Tunnel No. 4.

Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General, stated in his opening remarks at the regular IAEA Board of Governors meeting held in Vienna, Austria, on the 16th (local time), "The Punggye-ri nuclear test site remains ready to support testing," adding, "Continuous monitoring of North Korea's nuclear program indicates ongoing signs of activity near Tunnel No. 3 within the test site." He further noted, "Although the road leading to the entrance of Tunnel No. 4 has been rebuilt, no excavation or similar activities have been detected in that tunnel since then."

Regarding the Yongbyon nuclear facility, Director General Grossi explained, "The 5MW reactor and centrifuge enrichment facilities appear to still be operational," but added, "However, activities at the North Korean Radiochemical Laboratory that could be associated with waste processing or maintenance have ceased since the end of last September." He also reported, "In September, there were signs of testing the cooling system of the Yongbyon experimental light water reactor, and in October, the outlet of the reactor's cooling water was changed."

Grossi emphasized, "North Korea's continued nuclear program activities constitute a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which is deeply regrettable," and urged, "We call on North Korea to fully comply with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) safeguards agreement."

The IAEA plays a role in ensuring that NPT parties implement safeguards to independently verify that nuclear facilities and materials are not diverted for military purposes. North Korea declared its withdrawal from the NPT in January 2003 and has refused IAEA safeguards activities since 2009, resulting in the suspension of on-site verification activities at North Korean nuclear facilities.

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