North Korea claims it will restart shuttered nuclear reactor

Yongybon, which was closed in 2007, served as a source of plutonium used for weapons

Published April 2, 2013 11:24AM (EDT)

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un                            (Reuters/Kyodo)
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un (Reuters/Kyodo)

This article originally appeared on GlobalPost.

Global Post North Korea has said that it plans to restart the currently shuttered Yongbyon nuclear reactor, and plans to restart and refurbish every other nuclear facility in the nation as well — a move that will likely serve to further unnerve the DPRK's foes.

The KCNA news agency announced the plan on April 2nd, saying that North Korea would reopen shuttered facilities, including the 5-megawatt Yongbyon reactor, which was closed in 2007.

Yongbyon served as a source of plutonium used for weapons, noted the BBC.

Authorities added the nuclear power would be used for both electric and military uses, as Kim Jong Un stressed that increasing North Korea's nuclear capacities would also increase its economic development.

The move comes after North Korea carried out its third nuclear test in February, which was quickly met with international condemnation and UN sanctions.

In response to North Korea's continuing diplomatic feints, China has placed its troops on "highest alert" near its shared border, soon after Jong Un claimed that his country was now in a "state of war" with South Korea.


By Faine Greenwood

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Asia Globalpost Kim Jong-un North Korea South Korea Yongybon