Reprocessing Activity at Yongbyon’s Radiochemistry Laboratory?
Key Findings
- A March 30, 2021 satellite image shows steam emitting from both a small building within the Yongbyon Radiochemistry Laboratory and from its associated thermal plant.
- This follows activity previously observed at the thermal power plant during the past four weeks.
- The radiochemistry laboratory is used to reprocess spent fuel rods to extract plutonium for use in nuclear weapons.
- Steam (or smoke) rising from any of the stacks within the radiochemistry laboratory itself is not often observed in commercial satellite imagery, but the March 30 image shows a plume of steam or smoke emanating from a small support building in the center of the facility. This, while not an indicator of a reprocessing campaign itself, indicates that the building is occupied and being heated.
- Imagery also shows the storage pens at the thermal power plant have been filled during the past two weeks.
- This activity is observed following short-range ballistic missile and cruise missile tests in Q1 of 2020. Beyond Parallel data show that early provocations in a new U.S. administration have been a longtime pressure tactic by North Korea.
- Probable reasons for this activity are preparations for, or the start of, a new reprocessing campaign, a strategic political move by Kim Jong-un to continue slowly ratcheting up pressure on both the Biden administration and South Korean president Moon Jae-in, or a combination of both.
A satellite image of North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Research Facility acquired on March 30, 2021 shows continued activity at the radiochemistry laboratory (the facility used to reprocess spent fuel rods) and its associated thermal power plant that may indicate preparations for, or the start of, a new reprocessing campaign. This follows activity previously observed at the thermal power plant during the past four weeks. This activity, taken in combination with short-range ballistic missile and cruise missile tests since January, may all be components of a strategic political move by Kim Jong-un to continue slowly ratcheting up pressure on both the new administration of President Joe Biden and South Korean president Moon Jae-in, or a combination of both.
Steam (or smoke) rising from any of the stacks within the radiochemistry laboratory itself is not often observed in commercial satellite imagery. The present image, however, shows a small, wispy plume of steam or smoke emanating from a small support building in the center of the facility immediately east of the main processing halls. This, while not an indicator of a reprocessing campaign itself, indicates that the building is occupied and being heated.
At the thermal power plant, a small, wispy plume of steam (or smoke) is observed rising from the plant’s exhaust stack and imagery shows the plant’s storage pens have been filled during the past two weeks.
No activity of significance is noted to indicate that the Experimental Light Water Reactor (ELWR), 5MWe Reactor or IRT-DPRK (a modified IRT-2000 reactor) are operational. For example, there is no steam plume rising from the 5MWe turbine and electric generator hall. Additionally, no activity of significance is noted at the centrifuge plant or the center’s railroad yards. Minor activity (e.g., construction work, vehicle movements, personnel movements, rail activity) is, however, noted throughout the facility. This level of activity is similar to that observed during early spring in many previous years.
