http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/31/AR2011013106
853.html
U.N. report suggests N. Korea has secret nuclear sites
By <http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/articles/chico+harlan/> Chico
Harlan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, January 31, 2011; 11:37 PM
TOKYO - A confidential report from a panel of United Nations experts
suggests that
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/countries/korea.html?nav=el>
North Korea may have additional secret nuclear facilities, according to U.N.
diplomats who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity.
The report, prepared for the U.N. Security Council, reinforces a widely held
belief within the Obama administration that North Korea has constructed a
network of nuclear sites beyond its Yongbyon plant, which U.S. nuclear
scientist Siegfried Hecker visited in November. The report could also lead
to calls for tighter pressure against Pyongyang, which already faces U.N.
sanctions designed to choke its nuclear arms program.
During Hecker's visit to Yongbyon, North Korean officials revealed a uranium
facility that broadened the country's potential for nuclear weapons
manufacturing. The U.N. panel, during its subsequent investigation, endorsed
Hecker's view that Yongbyon was merely the visible face of a broader
project. The site that Hecker visited, now stocked with roughly 2,000
centrifuges, had been used only two years earlier as a fuel rod fabrication
plant. In an interview last month, Hecker explained that the centrifuges -
"which require years of research and development" - were likely assembled at
a site outside Yongbyon.
North Korean officials told Hecker that the plant will produce low-enriched
uranium for peaceful purposes. But if North Korea wanted, the plant could
likely produce high-enriched uranium, and could yield enough weapons-grade
material for one or two weapons annually.
"At a minimum North Korea has to have a smaller facility where it tests its
centrifuges," said Peter Crail, a research analyst at the Arms Control
Association. "If North Korea is really going to purpose the Yongbyon plant
for low-enriched uranium, it has a strong incentive to keep another plant
tucked away for weapons-grade material."
Based on observation of the Yongbyon facility, North Korea has seemingly
abandoned its plutonium program - part of a multi-nation disarmament-for-aid
deal - and emphasized its uranium program. Both plutonium and uranium offer
pathways to produce a nuclear weapon.
According to a May 2010 U.N. report, North Korea has used an elaborate
network of shell companies and financial institutions to dodge sanctions and
obtain its nuclear technology and know-how. Evidence suggests that North
Korea received elaborate help from
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/countries/pakistan.html?nav=el>
Pakistan, receiving centrifuge models and instruction manuals from nuclear
scientist A.Q. Khan.
Only when Hecker visited Yongbyon, though, did U.S. officials receive
confirmation of the uranium program they'd long suspected. But it remains
unknown whether the centrifuges at Yongbyon are operational.
"I was never able to confirm that they are running," Hecker said. "I asked
two officials during my tour, and both said, 'Yes, they're making
low-enriched uranium. But in an observation room, insulated by windows. I
couldn't see or hear anything."
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
--------------------------
Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list,
[email protected].
--------------------------
Brooks Isoldi, editor
[email protected]
http://www.intellnet.org
Post message: [email protected]
Subscribe: [email protected]
Unsubscribe: [email protected]
*** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has
not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of
The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT
YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the
included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of
intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods,
techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other
intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes
only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material
as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use
this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,'
you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
For more information go to:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtmlYahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
[email protected]
[email protected]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
