N Korea conducting 'suspicious' activities, US think tank says
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A North Korean nuclear plant is seen before demolishing a cooling tower (R) in Yongbyon, in this photo taken June 27, 2008 and released by Kyodo.
North Korea is conducting “suspicious” activities at its main nuclear site at Yongbyon, meaning the North could be planning to produce more plutonium for atomic bombs, says a US think tank.
Satellite images obtained recently show exhaust plumes rising from the thermal plant at Yongbyon's Radiochemical Laboratory on two or three occasions, according to a report published Monday on the 38 North website.
The laboratory is the site's main reprocessing installation to produce plutonium and its latest activities are indicative of an ongoing reprocessing, said the website, which is run by the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies in Washington.
"Exhaust plumes have rarely been seen there and none have been observed on any examined imagery this past winter. The plumes suggest that the operators of the reprocessing facility are heating their buildings, perhaps indicating that some significant activity is being undertaken, or will be in the near future," the report said.
"Whether that activity ... means reprocessing additional plutonium is underway or will be in the near future remains unclear," it said.
Experts at 38 North predicted last year that North Korea's nuclear weapons stockpile could rise to 20, 50 or 100 bombs within the next five years, from about 10 to 16 at that time.
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