North Korea- December 21, 2023

The UN nuclear watchdog and independent experts reported on December 21, 2023 that a new reactor at North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear complex has appeared to be operating for the first time.

The IAEA’s chief Rafael Grossi said in a statement that the discharge of warm water indicates the reactor has reached criticality, meaning the nuclear chain reaction is self-sustaining. This could mean an additional potential source of plutonium for nuclear weapons.

North Korea began building a second research reactor in Yongbyon in 1979, as well as an ore processing plant and a fuel rod fabrication plant. North Korea’s nuclear weapons program dates back to the 1980s.