North Korea nuclear site fully operational

North Korea says it has resumed operations at its main atomic facility, the Yongbyon complex, and is working to improve the “quality and quantity” of its nuclear weapons
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YONGBYON FACILITIES

Five-megawatt reactorProvides North Korea with weapons-grade plutoniumby reprocessing of spent fuel rods. When fully operational, reactor can produce about 6kg of plutoniumper year – enough for one nuclear bomb,experts say

Pilot fuel fabrication plant: Probable source of new fuel for 5MW reactor

Experimental lightwater reactor (ELWR)Work believed close to completion on 25-30MW facility, which North Koreasays will generate electricity for civilian purposes. U.S.concerned that reactor could be used to make weapons-grade plutonium

Radiochemical laboratory Plutonium in spent reactor fuel rods is chemically separated from uranium and other radioactive materials before being converted into metal form – raw material for building nuclear weapons

Uranium enrichment plant Centrifuges could be used to enrichuranium to weapons-grade levels,giving North Korea second route to developing nuclear bombs. Recent satellite imagery indicates new construction activity at plant
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NORTH KOREA P’yongyang Yongbyon

SOUTH KOREA 

IRT-2000 Research reactor

Possible new fuel fabrication building

Detail area

Kuryong River

YONGBYON NUCLEAR COMPLEX

Waste storage sites

50MW reactor Unfinished, due to be dismantled

550 yards 500m
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Sources: 38 North, wire agencies

Pictures: Google Earth

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