NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES

YONGBYON

PYONGYANG

SOVIET-SUPPLIED

RESEARCH REACTOR

SHUT DOWN AS PART OF 1994 AGREED FRAMEWORK

CONTINUE TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Previous slide

Next slide

Back to first slide

View graphic version

CONCERN IS GROWING THAT NORTH KOREA MAY BE DEVELOPING THE CAPABILITY TO PRODUCE NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

IN THE MID-1960’S, THE SOVIETS PROVIDED NORTH KOREA WITH A SMALL RESEARCH REACTOR. THIS REACTOR WAS SHUT DOWN AS PART OF A U.S. BROKERED AGREEMENT TO SUPPLY N.K. WITH LWRs (LIGHT WATER REACTORS) INSTEAD.

RECENT EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT THE NORTH KOREAN RESEARCH FACILITY AT YONGBYON HAS EXPANDED TO ALLOW THE PROCESSING OF MATERIALS FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA) INSPECTIONS REVEALED THAT THE NORTH HAD REPROCESSED MORE PLUTONIUM THAN PREVIOUSLY CLAIMED. NORTH KOREA HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND INTENDS TO CONTINUE DONING SO.