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[Real Reality]

N.K. completes retrieval of fuel rods from Yongbyon plant
North Korea has completed the retrieval of thousands of spent nuclear fuel rods from its Yongbyon nuclear power plant, a spokesman for North Korea's foreign ministry said Wednesday.

"We've recently completed the process to withdraw 8,000 spent fuel rods from the 5-megawatt experimental nuclear power plant in a successful manner in the shortest time," the spokesman said in response to a question raised by a reporter of the North's official Central Korean News Agency (KCNA). North Korea will be able to make several nuclear bombs from the plutonium that can be extracted from the approximately 8,000 spent fuel rods, according to nuclear experts.

The spokesman also said North Korea had resumed construction on its 50-megawatt and 200-megawatt nuclear plants in December 2002. "We are taking measures to enhance our nuclear arsenal to cope with the political atmosphere out of defense purpose," he said.
Yonhap News (May 11, 2005)
http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20050511/610000000020050511190203E2.html

Yongbyon 5-MW Reactor
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/dprk/yongbyon-5.htm

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/dprk/yongbyon.htm

[soviet_man]

Interesting article.

It should be also noted that South Korea itself has some 20 nuclear reactors.

SOURCE:
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf81.htm

South Korea has its own problems in disposing of its nuclear waste.

[AJRimmer]