New Evidence of Probable Plutonium Production at the Yongbyon Nuclear Facility. By 3. 8 North. 31 May 2. A 3. 8 North exclusive with analysis by Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr. Summary. Recent commercial satellite imagery shows new evidence that North Korea is preparing to commence or has already begun conducting a reprocessing campaign to separate more plutonium for nuclear weapons at the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center. This activity consists of the presence of two loaded railroad flatcars at the Radiochemical Laboratory loaded with casks or tanks that may be associated with chemicals used in a preprocessing campaign, a small exhaust plume at the facility’s thermal plant, the replenishing of the coal stockpile for that plant and the likelihood that the 5 MWe reactor is operating at a low level of power or not at all. Also, the North appears to have halted work at Building 5. Exactly how much new plutonium Pyongyang can produce if such a campaign is underway remains unclear given uncertainties about the level of operations at the 5 MWe reactor which restarted in 2. At maximum capacity, the reactor could produce approximately 6 kilograms of plutonium per year, probably enough for two nuclear weapons. New Activity at Radiochemical Laboratory. Recent commercial satellite imagery shows exhaust plumes present at the Radiochemical Laboratory’s Thermal Plant on May 1. A guide to nuclear weapons. Links to nuclear test images. Provides current information, technical data, and informative write-ups. A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Joseph S. Recent commercial satellite imagery shows new evidence that North Korea is preparing to commence or has already begun conducting a. THE THIRD TEMPLE'S HOLY OF HOLIES: ISRAEL'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS. The Counterproliferation Papers. Future Warfare Series No. USAF Counterproliferation Center. Plutonium-240 (240 Pu /Pu-240) is an isotope of the actinide metal plutonium formed when plutonium-239 captures a neutron. The detection of its spontaneous fission led to its discovery in 1944 at Los Alamos and had important. February and March of this year. Moreover, coal piles at the thermal plant began to be slowly replenished during February and as of May 2. Plutonium ist ein chemisches Element mit dem Elementsymbol Pu und der Ordnungszahl 94. Im Periodensystem steht es in der Gruppe der Actinoide (7. Periode, f-Block) und z. Plutonium ist ein giftiges und. Back to the Future (1985) Quotes on IMDb: Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, TV series and more. Subscribe To Be Notified When We've Done Something Stupid: http:// (Hit that 'Like' button. Figure 1. Exhaust plumes seen at Yongbyon’s Radiochemical Laboratory’s Thermal Plant. Image . For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail. Imagery also shows two railroad flatcars present at the facility’s receiving building from May 1. May 2. 2. Similar flatcars have previously been associated with reprocessing campaigns in the early 2. Railroad flatcars seen at the Radiochemical Laboratory’s receiving building. Image . For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail. Operations at the 5 MWe Reactor. Recent imagery shows two large trucks present on the east side of the 5 Mwe reactor, the exact purpose of which remains unclear. Moreover, there are no indications of steam generation or cooling water exhaust. This activity is similar to that noted in most previous 2. Radiochemical Laboratory, suggests that the reactor is not operating or is doing so at an extremely low level. Figure 3. Two large trucks seen at the 5 MWe reactor. Image . For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail. Previous Activity at Building 5. As noted in previous analysis, the North built a new dirt access road and excavated a trench on the east side of Building 5. Radiochemical Laboratory) earlier this year. Historically, Building 5. This trench measures approximately 7. Imagery from May 2. April. Figure 4. No significant change to recently excavated trench at the Building 5. Image . For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail. Progress at the Experimental Light Water Reactor (ELWR) Imagery from May indicates that the North has completed work at the ELWR’s transformer yard. The arrangement of power lines suggests that power could be fed both to the east and west. Grading or excavation operations continue around one of the ELWR’s cooling cisterns located approximately 1. It is unclear whether this activity is related to the cooling water systems, the extraction of river sand and gravel, or a combination of both. Regardless, this activity strongly suggests that the ELWR is not yet operational. Figure 5. Work on the ELWR transformer yard seems complete. Image . For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail. Figure 6. Grading or excavation continues around ELWR cooling cisterns. Image . For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail. Continued Activity at the Uranium Enrichment Complex. Imagery from May 2. While the building itself appears externally complete (with the exception of some surrounding roadwork) some foundation- type work has taken place adjacent to the chimney on the east side of the building. Additionally, the heavy construction crane observed in this area in May 1. May 1. 3 imagery is no longer present. This crane may have been moved to the area immediately south of the Centrifuge Building as a crane of similar size and configuration is present the May 2. No clear explanation for the crane’s presence here is apparent, however, it suggests that construction or maintenance work may soon start at the building south of the Centrifuge Building. The rail yard that serves the Uranium Enrichment Complex remains active with the presence of several rail cars and material on the ground. Significantly, as noted above, is the presence of a flatcar loaded with four rectangular tanks or casks that is identical to one at the Radiochemical Laboratory. Figure 7. Heavy construction crane seen next to Centrifuge Building, may indicate construction or maintenance work starting soon. Image . For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail. No similar railcars were identified here during 2. May 1. 1 when one such car was present. A single loaded flatcar is present in imagery from May 1.
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