U.S. Sees North Korea Nuclear Expansion

Jan. 29, 2014 11:06 p.m. ETSEOUL—The U.S. believes North Korea has taken steps toward increasing its nuclear arsenal by restarting a plutonium-producing reactor and expanding a uranium-enrichment facility, Washington’s top intelligence official said.
The assessment from Director of National Intelligence James Clapper in written testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday supports analysis made last year by think tanks based on satellite imagery of North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear site.
Following its third nuclear test in February last year, North Korea said it would restart the main graphite-moderated reactor at Yongbyon to produce more fissile material for bombs and “adjust and alter” its uranium-enrichment plant there.
Satellite imagery has shown signs of activity at the reactor, such as steam from turbines, and an enlargement of the building that houses centrifuges for uranium enrichment. While North Korea is thought to have a few small plutonium-based bombs, it isn’t clear if it has been able to create a uranium-based explosive yet.
“We assess that North Korea has followed through on its announcement by expanding the size of its Yongbyon enrichment facility and restarting the reactor that was previously used for plutonium production,” Mr. Clapper said.
Experts caution that it isn’t clear whether North Korea has a sufficient supply of fuel for its reactor and, if it does, it would take months or even years for it to produce enough plutonium for new explosives.
But the restart of the Yongbyon plant and uncertainty over North Korea’s progress in the creation of an uranium-based weapon complicates efforts by the U.S. and others to rein in North Korean nuclear proliferation.
The U.S. and South Korea have said a restart of multilateral talks about ending North Korea’s nuclear program must be preceded by steps from Pyongyang to show it is willing to reverse course.
Speaking in Seoul on Wednesday, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Glyn Davies said that, so far, North Korea had been a “no show on nuclear issues.”
“What we need is not just change in attitude, but change in direction, in fact, concrete steps from North Korea,” Mr. Davies said after meeting senior South Korean officials.
Officials in Seoul say they are concerned that North Korea may stage a new nuclear test or some other provocative action in protest against scheduled annual military drills in South Korea due to start at the end of February.
North Korea has been pushing strongly for South Korea and the U.S. to scrap the joint exercises, which it portrays as a rehearsal for invasion of the North. Seoul and Washington say the drills are defensive in nature and will proceed as planned.
In his testimony, Mr. Clapper also said U.S. officials believe that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has solidified his control of the country through a series of purges and personnel changes.
In December, North Korea said it had executed the uncle of Mr. Kim, Jang Song Thaek, for allegedly plotting to overthrow the regime and other crimes. Intelligence officials in Seoul say they believe the purge has extended to Mr. Jang’s network of associates and family.
Mr. Kim has also changed almost half of the senior personnel in the military and ruling party since taking over rule of the country following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in December 2011.

Excerpt from: U.S. Sees North Korea Nuclear Expansion