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38 North
Start-up of North Korean Experimental Light Water Reactor Could Begin by Mid-2013 if Fuel is Available
A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Jeffery Lewis and Nick Hansen Summary According to new commercial satellite imagery, North Korea is nearing completion of an experimental light water reactor (ELWR) that is primarily intended to generate electricity for civilian purposes. The North now appears to be putting the finishing external touches [...]
Satellite Images Show New Construction at North Korea’s Plutonium Production Reactor; Rapid Restart?
A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Nick Hansen and Jeffrey Lewis. North Korea has begun new construction at a plutonium production reactor located at the Yongbyon nuclear complex that may be intended to restart the facility shut down under a 2007 agreement. A key step in that process will be to restore the disabled secondary cooling system. [...]
Update on North Korean Rocket Test Facilities: No Imminent Launches, But…
A 38 North exclusive, with analysis by Nick Hansen Summary Despite rising tensions in the aftermath of new United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed on North Korea and Pyongyang’s pronouncements at the end of 2012 that it would conduct additional rocket tests, new commercial satellite imagery collected from January 2013 through [...]
Post-Test Analysis of Punggye-ri: What a Difference a Few Days Make
A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Jack Liu and Nick Hansen. Commercial satellite imagery of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility taken at intervals of one and three days after North Korea’s third nuclear detonation provides an interesting glimpse of the post-test activity. Press reports indicated that the test site had been evacuated on [...]
New Developments at the Tonghae Rocket Test Site
A 38 North exclusive, with analysis by Nick Hansen. Summary While the Sohae rocket test facility was the focus of international attention in 2012, construction of new facilities at the Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground (commonly referred to as Musudan-ri), previously slowed by the typhoons that ravaged the east coast of North Korea last [...]
Update on the North Korean Nuclear Test Site
A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Jack Liu and Nick Hansen. Summary Satellite imagery beginning in January indicates that activity has spread to other areas at the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test site beyond the southern tunnel entrance where North Korea’s third nuclear test was expected to take place. In addition to continuing activity at [...]
