N Korea: Satellite images reveal country may have more plutonium than previously thought

Thermal images of North Korea’s main nuclear site show Pyongyang may have reprocessed more plutonium than previously thought, a material that can be used to enlarge its nuclear weapons stockpile, a US think tank has said.

The analysis by 38 North, a Washington-based North Korean monitoring project, was based on satellite images of the radiochemical laboratory at the Yongbyon nuclear plant from September until the end of June, amid rising international concerns over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.

The think tank said images of the uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon could also indicate operation of centrifuges that could be used to increase North Korea’s stock of enriched uranium, its other source of bomb fuel.

N Korea’s nuke capabilities

A former CIA officer says North Korea could have a 10-kiloton weapon capable of striking the US west coast and killing 100,000 people within four years.

There were signs too of at least short-term activity at North Korea’s Experimental Light Water Reactor that could be cause for concern, 38 North said…

Source: North Korea: Satellite images reveal country may have more plutonium than previously thought – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)