Seoul: North Korea’s 5 megawatt nuclear reactor at Yongbyon is showing a water plume, indicating that the plant is probably operating at the facility, a US research institute said. Satellite pictures taken 22 January show emissions from the cooling tower of the reactor, North Korea’s main nuclear complex, the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies said on its 38 North website. The restart comes amid rising concern that North Korea is preparing to test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile. The US secretary of defence and South Korea’s defence minister are scheduled to hold their first meeting in Seoul on 2 February to discuss the alliance and security. Separately, the South Korea Defence Ministry’s 2016 White Paper said that North Korea likely increased its stockpile of plutonium that can be used to produce nuclear weapons to 50 kilograms.

Source: Mint January 28, 2017 04:56 UTC