S. Korean Govt.: North’s Nuclear Reprocessing Unclear

The government announced yesterday that there was no solid evidence to verify the Washington Post report on May 7 that claims evidence of the North`s renewed plutonium reprocessing activities.

“There have been no dubious signs of reprocessing since smoke, which was detected at the Yongbyon facilities on the 30th of last month,” a government official said. “Korea, with the support of the U.S., is keeping a close eye on developments.”

He also explained that “plutonium reprocessing emits a specifically colored krypton isotope vapor as well as heat. Unusual movement of vehicles and people is also likely. But so far, there has been nothing suspicious in the area.”

He went on to say that smoke from the facility was not sufficient evidence to show reprocessing operations, and that smoke had not gone on long enough to confirm renewed operations at Yongbyon.

It is reported that U.S. spy satellites and a U-2 reconnaissance plane reported that krypton isotope was detected in the air near Yongbyon facilities and nearby temperatures changed.

The Korean government, in the meantime, does not exclude the possibility that the North has restarted operations at its nuclear facilities. The communist regime drew attention on April 30 last month, announcing that the nation should be fully prepared to take emergency actions in case the U.S. turns the nuclear issue over to the U.N.

A government source said that since April 30, the government has been monitoring movements in the North and reviewing various countermeasures with the National Security Council.

He said that “the North`s claim of nuclear weapons` possession is groundless and its reprocessing activities will leave traces”, and that, “once activity is detected, the government will respond.”

He also noted that “it is possible that the North was just bluffing in order to pressure the U.S. to return to the negotiating table and that the government, therefore, is taking various scenarios under serious consideration.”

Ki-Heung Han eligius@donga.com