N.Korea Reactivates Uranium Plant

Satellite images suggest that a uranium plant in Pakchon in the North Korean province of North Pyongan, which was neglected since 2002, has been reactivated recently.

Jacob Bogle, an American analyst of satellite images, pointed out the developments signs on his blog AccessDPRK last Saturday based on satellite images shot in March 2012, February 2019, and September this year.

"When I first wrote about the site in 2019, I noted two buildings that were either being demolished or that had been left to fall apart. Since then, commercial satellite imagery from Sept. 14, 2021 shows that one of those buildings has been completely reconstructed. Additionally, a repaired section of roof on the main milling building can be identified," he said.

"The imagery also shows that the complex's administrative section has seen construction and that the waste material reservoir is still being used."

The Pakchon plant is one of five nuclear facilities former U.S. President Donald Trump asked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to dismantle during their second summit in Hanoi in February 2019. Its reactivation after the recent restart of the Yongbyon nuclear facility suggests that Pyongyang is going all out to increase its nuclear capabilities.

During a party congress back in January, Kim ordered officials to make nuclear weapons smaller and lighter and develop tactical nuclear bombs.