Evidence that North Korea is restarting a reactor capable of producing plutonium for nuclear weapons sparked international anger yesterday amid warnings that putting it back into operation could end in disaster.
Analysis of satellite images has shown white smoke emerging from the five-megawatt graphite-moderated reactor in recent weeks, according to the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
The steam indicates that the electrical system in the steam turbine building is being prepared to come online, a precursor to the plant going back into full operation.
"If it turns out that these reports are true, this would be a very serious matter," said Glyn Davies, the US envoy for North Korea policy.
He said the move would be "a misstep on the part of North Korea because it would violate the UN Security Council resolutions. It flies in the face of North Korea's own commitments".
If the plant does return to full operation, it would enable North Korea to produce an extra 6kg of plutonium a year for its nuclear weapons programme, experts said.
There are also safety concerns about the plant, which uses outdated technology and is not subject to monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
"It's obvious that some work is being conducted, and for a long time at that," a source said.
"According to some signs, steps were indeed taken to relaunch it."
He warned: "The reactor is in a nightmarish state; it is a design dating back to the 1950s. For the Korean Peninsula, this could entail terrible consequences, if not a man-made catastrophe."
The reports caused North Korea's only major ally, China, to reiterate its call for the "de-nuclearisation" of the peninsula.
"To achieve denuclearisation and to maintain peace and stability is what China has been advocating," said a spokesman.
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