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Nyongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center

Summary

The Nyongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center (녕변원자력연구소)[a] is North Korea's major nuclear facility, operating its first nuclear reactors. It is located in Nyongbyon County in North Pyongan Province, about 100 km north of Pyongyang. The center produced the fissile material for North Korea's six nuclear weapon tests from 2006 to 2017, and since 2009 is developing indigenous light water reactor nuclear power station technology.

Nyongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center
The 5 MWe experimental reactor
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
녕변핵시설
Hancha
寧邊核施設
Revised RomanizationNyeongbyeon haekshiseol
McCune–ReischauerNyŏngbyŏn haeksisŏl

Facilities edit

The major installations include all aspects of a Magnox nuclear reactor fuel cycle, based on the use of natural uranium fuel:[1]

Magnox spent fuel is not designed for long-term storage as both the casing and uranium metal core react with water; it is designed to be reprocessed within a few years of removal from a reactor.[2] As a carbon dioxide cooled, graphite moderated Magnox reactor does not require difficult-to-produce enriched uranium fuel or a heavy water moderator it is an attractive choice for a wholly indigenous nuclear reactor development.

The Magnox facilities were disabled in 2007 in accord with the six-party talks agreement, but following the breakdown of that agreement were partially re-enabled in 2009 to reprocess existing stocks of spent fuel. On 15 September 2015, North Korea announced that the reactor had resumed operation.[3]

The center also has an IRT-2000 pool-type research reactor, supplied by the Soviet Union in 1963, operational since 1965.[4] The reactor fuel is IRT-2M type assemblies of 10%, 36% and 80% enriched uranium.[5][1] As the center has not received fresh fuel since Soviet times, this reactor is now[needs update] (February 2007) only run occasionally for experiments or to produce isotopes, particularly iodine-131 for thyroid cancer radiation therapy.[6]

In 2009, the building of a small indigenous experimental light water reactor started. In 2010, a uranium enrichment plant began operating.[7]

The Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center site occupies 24.8 square kilometres (9.6 sq mi). It has two sections, the nuclear research section and a larger residential district (sometimes named Bungang or Pun’gangni), separated and surrounded by fencing.[8]

History edit

 
The 5 MWe reactor, showing the fuel channels access ports (2005)

Construction of the 5 MWe experimental reactor began in 1980, and the reactor first went critical in 1986.[9] This reactor was an initial small technology proving reactor for a following development program of larger Magnox reactors. The spent nuclear fuel reprocessing facility appeared to still be under construction in 1992.[9] The 5 MWe experimental reactor operated intermittently until 1994 when it was shut down in accordance with the U.S.-North Korea Agreed Framework. Following the breakdown of the Agreed Framework in 2002, operation restarted in February 2003, creating plutonium within its fuel load at a rate of about 6 kg per year.[10] The reactor fuel was replaced between April and June 2005. The spent nuclear fuel has been reprocessed with an estimated yield of about 24 to 42 kg of plutonium metal,[10] some of which was used for the nuclear weapons involved in the 2006 and 2009 North Korean nuclear tests.[11]

Nyongbyon is also the site of a 50 MWe Magnox prototype power reactor, but construction was halted in 1994 about a year from completion in accord with the Agreed Framework, and by 2004 the structures and pipework had deteriorated badly.[12] This construction was being dismantled in 2010.[7]

Another 200 MWe Magnox full-scale power reactor was being constructed at Taechon, 20 km north-west of Nyongbyon, (39°55′41″N 125°34′08″E / 39.928°N 125.569°E / 39.928; 125.569) until construction was also halted in 1994 in accord with the Agreed Framework. By 2005 reconstruction of this reactor was uneconomic.

The reactor designs were based on declassified information about the British Magnox design at Calder Hall and elsewhere, and the spent fuel reprocessing plant on the multi-national European Company for the Chemical Processing of Irradiated Fuels (EUROCHEMIC) plant at Mol-Dessel in Belgium.[10]

2007 shutdown edit

 
Empty machine shop in the disabled fuel fabrication facility (February 2008)

On 13 February 2007, an agreement was reached at the Six party talks that North Korea will shut down and seal the Magnox nuclear reactor and associated facilities and invite back International Atomic Energy Agency personnel to conduct all necessary monitoring and verifications.[13] In return for this North Korea will receive emergency energy assistance from the other five parties in the form of 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors arrived at the site on 28 June to discuss verification and monitoring arrangements for the shutdown.[14] This had been delayed from April due to a dispute with the United States over Banco Delta Asia.[15] On 3 June an anonymous South Korean government official indicated that the shutdown may start following the first oil shipment later in the month.[16] On 14 July, Sean McCormack stated that North Korea had told the US that the reactor had been shut down. He added that the US welcomed the news, and was awaiting verification from the IAEA team.[17] The next day, IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei announced the UN's confirmation that the reactor had been shut down.[18] On 18 July 2007, the IAEA confirmed that all five nuclear facilities at Nyongbyon had been shut down.[19]

In his Introductory Statement to the IAEA Board of Governors on 2008-03-03, the Director General stated that he could not provide an update on the disabling of the facilities, as it was not undertaken by the IAEA. All fuel rods from the 5 MWe Experimental Nuclear Power Plant and nuclear material generated by the disabling of the Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Plant were under IAEA containment and surveillance.[20]

2008 cooling tower demolition edit

On 27 June 2008 North Korea destroyed the most visible symbol of its nuclear weapons program – the cooling tower at its main atomic reactor in the complex. The implosion was witnessed by a number of international journalists and diplomats.[21]

The demolition of the 60-foot (18 m)-tall cooling tower, which carried off waste heat to the atmosphere, is a response to U.S. concessions after the North delivered a declaration of its nuclear programs to be dismantled. The United States paid the US$2.5 million demolition fee.[22]

Possible reactivation edit

During 2008 tensions resurfaced between North Korea and the U.S. due to disagreements over the six-party talks disarmament process. On 8 October 2008, IAEA inspectors were forbidden by the North Korean government to conduct further inspections of the site. However two days later the U.S. removed North Korea from the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list and the Nyongbyon deactivation process resumed.[23]

2009 resumption of reprocessing edit

According to the state-run North Korean news agency KCNA website, the DPRK resumed the reprocessing of spent fuel to recover plutonium on 25 April 2009 in response to the UN's condemnation of its recent rocket launch. This material supplemented that used for nuclear weapons testing.[24]

Light water reactor development edit

In 2009, North Korea announced its intention to build an indigenous experimental light water reactor (LWR) and the uranium enrichment technology to provide its nuclear fuel.[25] In 2010, a 2,000 gas centrifuge uranium enrichment plant to produce low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel began operating, and construction started on the experimental 25 to 30 MWe LWR, with a target operation date for the reactor of 2012.[7]

In November 2011, satellite imagery indicated that the LWR construction was progressing rapidly, with the concrete structures largely completed. The LWR is being built on the site of the demolished cooling tower of the experimental Magnox reactor.[26][27] Following the building of this experimental LWR, North Korea intends to build larger LWRs for electricity generation.[7] Initial estimates were that the reactor would be put into operation in 2013,[28] but the reactor was not externally complete until 2016.[29]

In 2017, several activities were noted involving construction, dam was built to provide sufficient amount of water for cooling system, switchyard and connections to transmission line were made along with facilities presumably used for maintenance and repair. Activity that suggests components were being transferred to the building were noted too.[30] In 2018, it was believed that the preliminary testing of the reactor had started and that the reactor would begin to operate 2018 or 2019.[31][32] The reactor is linked to power grid with an expected output is 25 to 30 megawatts, which is enough to supply electricity for about 50,000 inhabitants.[33]

In October 2023, the reactor was observed operating according to the IAEA. The IAEA said the outflow of warm water from the cooling system suggested the reactor was being commissioned and had reached criticality.[34]

Suspension of uranium enrichment edit

In February 2012, North Korea announced that it would suspend uranium enrichment at Nyongbyon, and not conduct any further tests of nuclear weapons while productive negotiations involving the United States continue. Additionally, North Korea would allow IAEA inspectors to monitor operations at Nyongbyon. The U.S. reaffirmed that it does not have hostile intent toward the DPRK, and is prepared to improve bilateral relationships.[35][36] Nuclear enrichment was presumably resumed following the collapse of the Leap Day Deal.

2013 planned restart of operation edit

In March 2013, North Korea announced that they would be restarting operation of the 5 MWe experimental reactor.[37] In order to do so, the disabled secondary cooling system will have to be restored.[38]

On 15 September 2015, North Korea announced that the Yongbyon nuclear site is in full operation, including the 5 MWe experimental reactor.[3] However, satellite imagery in April 2016 suggested it was not operating at a high power level.[39]

Infra-red imagery analysis covering from September 2016 to June 2017 showed that the 5 MWe experimental reactor had either not been operated, or operated at a low-level. The Radiochemical Laboratory had operated intermittently.[40]

2018 Pyongyang Agreement edit

During the September 2018 inter-Korean summit, North Korean leader Kim Jung-Un and South Korean leader Moon Jae-In signed the "Pyongyang Joint Declaration of September 2018"[41] The agreement states, among other things, that the North Korean government will only dismantle Nyongbyon if the US would engage in correlative action.[42]

As of January 2019, Nyongbyon's main facilities did not appear to be operating.[43] However, in August 2021, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that North Korea appeared to have restarted the 5 MW reactor.[44]

Organization edit

The Nyongbyon facility was described in 2013[45] as operating the following ten sub-branches:

  1. Isotope Utilization Institute
  2. Neutron Physics Institute
  3. Nuclear Electromagnetics Institute
  4. Nuclear Physics Institute
  5. Nuclear Material Institute
  6. Nuclear Energy Research Institute
  7. Uranium Resources Development Institute
  8. Radiochemical Laboratory
  9. Reactor Design Institute
  10. Radiation Protection Institute

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Nyongbyon" is spelled and pronounced 녕변 (Nyŏngbyŏn) in North Korea and 영변 (Yŏngbyŏn) in South Korea.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Chaim Braun; Siegfried Hecker; Chris Lawrence; Panos Papadiamantis (27 May 2016). North Korean Nuclear Facilities After the Agreed Framework (PDF). Center for International Security and Cooperation (Report). Stanford University. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  2. ^ Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee (November 2000). RWMAC's Advice to Ministers on the Radioactive Waste Implications of Reprocessing, Annex 4: Dry storage and disposal of Magnox spent fuel (Report). Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Archived from the original on 19 August 2006.
  3. ^ a b "North Korea Yongbyon nuclear site 'in operation'". BBC. 15 September 2015. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Research Reactor Details – IRT-DPRK". International Atomic Energy Agency. 30 July 1996. Retrieved 14 February 2007.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Siegfried S. Hecker (14 March 2008). Report of Visit to North Korea to Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Report). Center for International Security and Cooperation, Stanford University. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  6. ^ David Albright (19 March 2007). Phased International Cooperation with North Korea's Civil Nuclear Programs (PDF) (Report). Institute for Science and International Security. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d Siegfried S. Hecker (20 November 2010). A Return Trip to North Korea's Yongbyon Nuclear Complex (Report). Center for International Security and Cooperation, Stanford University. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  8. ^ Bogle, Jacob (20 March 2020). "More Underground Facilities Near Yongbyon: A Potential Challenge for Future Denuclearization Deals". 38 North. The Henry L. Stimson Center. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  9. ^ a b Sheryl WuDunn (17 May 1992). "North Korean site has A-bomb hints". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  10. ^ a b c Siegfried S. Hecker; Sean C. Lee; Chaim Braun (Summer 2010). "North Korea's Choice: Bombs Over Electricity". The Bridge. 40 (2). National Academy of Engineering: 5–12. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  11. ^ North Korean Fuel Identified as Plutonium Archived 19 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Thom Shanker and David E. Sanger, New York Times, 17 October 2006.
  12. ^ Siegfried S. Hecker (12 May 2009). "The risks of North Korea's nuclear restart". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Archived from the original on 15 July 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  13. ^ "Application of Safeguards in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)" (PDF). IAEA. 17 August 2007. GOV/2007/45-GC(51)/19. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. ^ U.N. nuke inspectors go to N. Korea reactor, CNN, published 2007-06-27, accessed 3 July 2007.
  15. ^ James Reynolds (17 March 2007). "N Korea warning on nuclear deal". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 March 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2007.
  16. ^ Heejin Koo (3 July 2007). "North Korea Reactor Closure May Begin in Mid-July". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2007.
  17. ^ N Korea "closes nuclear reactor" Archived 22 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine BBC News retrieved 14 July 2007.
  18. ^ "UN confirms N Korea nuclear halt" Archived 27 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News, 16 July 2007
  19. ^ "N Korea closes more nuclear sites" Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News, 18 July 2007.
  20. ^ "Verification of Nuclear Non-Proliferation: Implementation of Safeguards in the DPRK Archived 9 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine", IAEA: Statements of the Director General, Vienna, 3 March 2008. Retrieved on 26 April 2008
  21. ^ "Blast gets North Korea off US blacklist". The Australian. 28 June 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2008. [dead link]
  22. ^ Cooper, Helene (27 June 2008). "Bush Rebuffs Hard-Liners to Ease North Korean Curbs". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  23. ^ Demetri Sevastopulo (10 October 2008). "Bush removes North Korea from terror list". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  24. ^ "North Korea says it has started reprocessing spent fuel rods". Nexis: BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific – Political. 25 April 2009.
  25. ^ "DPRK Foreign Ministry Declares Strong Counter- Measures against UNSC's "Resolution 1874"". Korean Central News Agency. 13 June 2010. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  26. ^ "North Korea Makes Significant Progress in Building New Experimental Light Water Reactor (ELWR)". 38 North, School of Advanced International Studies. Johns Hopkins University. 18 November 2011. Archived from the original on 17 November 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  27. ^ Niko Milonopoulos; Siegfried S. Hecker & Robert Carlin (6 January 2012). "North Korea from 30,000 feet". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  28. ^ "North Korea makes "significant" nuclear reactor progress: IAEA". Reuters. 31 August 2012. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  29. ^ "North Korea's Yongbyon Nuclear Facility: Slow Progress at the Experimental Light Water Reactor". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. 14 January 2016. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  30. ^ "Progress at North Korea's Experimental Light Water Reactor at Yongbyon | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. 19 February 2018.
  31. ^ "Jane's by IHS Markit Discovers Likely Operational Testing at North Korean Nuclear Reactor". www.businesswire.com. 16 March 2018.
  32. ^ "Seoul aims for more talks about talks with North Korea this month". Reuters. 16 March 2018 – via mobile.reuters.com.
  33. ^ "North Korea nuclear reactors show new signs of activity". CNN. 16 March 2018.
  34. ^ Murphy, Francois; Smith, Josh (22 December 2023). "Second North Korean nuclear reactor appears to be operational, IAEA says". Reuters. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  35. ^ "DPRK Foreign Ministry Spokesman on Result of DPRK-U.S. Talks". Korean Central News Agency. 29 February 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  36. ^ "U.S.-DPRK Bilateral Discussions". U.S. Department of State. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  37. ^ "North Korea 'to restart Yongbyon nuclear reactor'". BBC. 2 April 2013. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  38. ^ Nick Hansen & Jeffrey Lewis (3 April 2013). "Satellite Images Show New Construction at North Korea's Plutonium Production Reactor; Rapid Restart?". 38 North, School of Advanced International Studies. Johns Hopkins University. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  39. ^ Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr. (15 April 2016). "More Evidence of Possible Reprocessing Campaign at Nyongbyon; Progress at Experimental Light Water Reactor". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  40. ^ Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Mike Eley, Jack Liu. Frank V. Pabian (14 July 2017). "North Korea's Yongbyon Facility: Probable Production of Additional Plutonium for Nuclear Weapons". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Retrieved 15 July 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  41. ^ "North and South Korea just signed a major agreement. It may be bad news for Trump". vox.com. 19 September 2018.
  42. ^ "South Korea says North agrees to dismantle nuclear site — if US takes reciprocal action". abc.net.au. 19 September 2018.
  43. ^ "North Korea's Nyongbyon Nuclear Facilities: Well Maintained but Showing Limited Operations". 38 North. The Henry L. Stimson Center. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  44. ^ "Yongbyon: UN says North Korea appears to restart nuclear reactor". BBC News. 30 August 2021.
  45. ^ "North Korea Nuclear R&D Structure". CRS. 13 February 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.

External links edit

  • IAEA & DPRK, International Atomic Energy Agency
  • Facilities in the Democratic People´s Republic of Korea Under Agency Safeguards – International Atomic Energy Agency, 31 December 2003 (archived)
  • North Korea: No bygones at Yongbyon – Robert Alvarez, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, July 2003 (archived)
  • DPRK will re-open Nuclear Facilities to Produce Electricity – Sin Yong Song, Vice Minister of Power and Coal Industries, 27 January 2003 (archived)
  • Visit to the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center in North Korea – Siegfried S. Hecker, 21 January 2004
  • Report of Visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea to Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Siegfried S. Hecker, 17 March 2008
  • Technical summary of DPRK nuclear program – Siegfried S. Hecker, 8 November 2005 (archived)
  • North Korean Plutonium Production, David Albright, ISIS – Science & Global Security, 1994, Volume 5, pp. 63–87 (archived)
  • North Korea’s Corroding Fuel, David Albright, ISIS – Science & Global Security, 1994, Volume 5, pp. 89–97 (archived)
  • Implications of the U.S./North Korean Agreement on Nuclear Issues, GAO, October 1996 (GAO/RCED/NSIAD-97-8) (archived)
  • Implementation of the U.S./North Korean Agreed Framework on Nuclear Issues, GAO, June 1997 (GAO/RCED/NSIAD-97-165) (archived)
  • Dismantlement and Radioactive Waste Management of DPRK Nuclear Facilities, Whang Jooho and George T. Baldwin, Sandia National Laboratories, April 2005 (SAND 2005-1981P) (archived)
  • Visit by IAEA Director General Hans Blix to DPRK 11–16 May 1992 on YouTube

39°48′00″N 125°45′14″E / 39.800°N 125.754°E / 39.800; 125.754

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