Edition

Start-up of North Korean Experimental Light Water Reactor Could Begin by Mid-2013 if Fuel is Available

IN THIS ISSUE: Start-up of N. Korean ELWR could begin by mid-2013, House GOP unveils next move on East Coast missile plan, Yucca Mountain casts long shadow over nuclear-waste bill, former Israeli defense chief urges 'big-for-big' offer to Iran, Japanese utilities face mounting costs, too many SSBNs.

Published on May 2, 2013
 

Start-up of North Korean Experimental Light Water Reactor Could Begin by Mid-2013 if Fuel is Available

Jeffery Lewis and Nick Hansen | 38 North

Yongbyon

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 on the reactor and may be completing work inside the building as well. The key factor determining whether Pyongyang can then move on to the start-up period within the next few months—which precedes regular operation of the reactor—is the availability of reactor fuel.   Full Article

Related:
Cooperate to Contain North Korea (Schoff, Carnegie Video Q&A)



Follow the Nuclear Policy Program
 RSS News Feed Facebook Twitter
Footer information begins here
More from Proliferation News


John T. Bennett | Defense News
The 16 GOP members, in a letter sent last Friday to House Appropriations defense subcommittee Chairman Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., revealed they will authorize the Pentagon to spend up to $250 million in 2014 on the proposed, but controversial, system.     Full Article

Amy Harder | Global Security Newswire
The decades-long fight over Yucca Mountain looms large over draft legislation released Thursday by a bipartisan group of senators seeking to find a solution to the nation’s nuclear-waste-disposal problem.     Full Article

Barbara Slavin | Al-Monitor
Former Israeli Defense Force chief of Defense Intelligence, retired Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, says the US and its negotiating partners erred by offering Iran a small confidence-building deal this year instead of a comprehensive agreement trading sanctions relief for tough curbs on Iran’s nuclear program.     Full Article

Mari Iwata | Wall Street Journal
Cash-strapped Japanese power utilities, which in the past week reported ¥1.3 trillion ($13.3 billion) in annual pretax losses, will likely face the added burden of shutting down aging nuclear power plants.     Full Article

Hans M. Kristensen | Federation of American Scientists
Over the past thirteen years, the number of deterrent patrols conducted each year by U.S. ballistic missile submarines has declined by more than half. During most of the same period, the size of the SSBN fleet has remained relatively steady at 14 boats, after four were retired in 2001-2003. Yet the decline in deterrent patrols has continued.     Full Article
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.