(North Korea seen from the sky) Yongbyon nuclear facility operating and mysterious night lights detected

(North Korea seen from the sky) Yongbyon nuclear facility operating and mysterious night lights detected

On the 20th, Rafael Grossi, Secretary-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), announced at a board meeting held in Vienna, Austria, that there are signs that North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear facility is continuing to operate. Accordingly, we examined the recent situation in Yongbyon using satellite image data, and it was discovered that major facilities at the Yongbyon nuclear complex in North Pyongan Province were continuously operating.

It was identified that cooling water was intermittently discharged into the Guryong River from the nuclear reactor and light water reactor complex, and analysis of thermal infrared images showed that the nuclear material production facility was operating with high heat. Meanwhile, lights were identified in the night-time illuminance video, and it is presumed that they are related to vehicle convoy activities that secretly bring in and out of goods and materials during late-night hours to avoid satellite surveillance by the international community.

◆Yongbyon nuclear reactor/light water reactor cooling water discharge

As North Korea operates the Yongbyon nuclear reactor and light water reactor, cooling water is discharged into the Guryong River, which can be identified along with white foam from the drain connected to the pumping station. /Photo=GE-1 (Source: World Imagery Wayback)

We looked at the Yongbyon nuclear reactor and light water reactor area using the GeoEye-1 high-resolution satellite image (resolution 40 cm) posted in the ‘World Imagery Wayback’ program provided by ESRI, an American GIS company. The cooling water heated during the operation of the nuclear reactor and light water reactor was discharged into the Guryong River through the pumping station, along with white foam, which was identified in satellite photos.

IAEA Director-General Grossi explained in a board statement on the 20th, “There are indications that the light water reactor at Yongbyon continues to operate intermittently,” adding, “This suggests that a commissioning process is currently underway at the light water reactor.” Light water reactor commissioning is generally said to be a step-by-step test and verification process conducted to ensure that all systems and equipment operate properly as designed before normal operation of the reactor for nuclear fuel production.

◆Thermal infrared high temperature detection at nuclear material production facilities

As a result of analyzing thermal infrared images, it was determined that the radiochemical laboratory and uranium enrichment facility were operating while emitting high purple to red heat. It is believed that North Korea is continuing its nuclear material production activities. /Photo=GE-1 (background)+Landsat-8 TIR (translucent)

According to a review of thermal infrared (TIR) ​​images taken by the U.S. Earth observation satellite Landsat-8, the Yongbyon area is understood to have had a temperature distribution of a minimum of 5 degrees and a maximum of 14 degrees, with an average temperature of 9 degrees on the morning of October 23. As a result of the analysis, unlike the surrounding temperature in Yongbyon (average 9 degrees), the radiochemical laboratory, which is a nuclear reprocessing facility, was found to be actively operating with a high temperature of 12 to 14 degrees, and the uranium enrichment facility was also emitting high heat of 11 to 12 degrees. It is interpreted as being in operation.

Meanwhile, while no high heat was detected in the experimental light water reactor (ELWR) on this day, 11 degrees of heat was found to be radiating from the 5MWe reactor, and the reactor is evaluated to be operating at low intensity.

◆Capturing the night lights of the Yongbyon nuclear complex

Recently, night lights were captured at the Yongbyon nuclear complex. It seems likely that it is the headlights that shine as a line of cars passes by on the access road leading to the radiochemical laboratory and facility. /Photo=GE-1 (background)+VIIRS (translucent)

Night lights were captured at the Yongbyon nuclear complex on November 11 in the Night Illuminance Image (VIIRS) taken by the U.S. JPSS satellite. A mysterious light was identified in the late night hours of 1:30 a.m., when the entire Yongbyon area was immersed in darkness. At the Yongbyon nuclear facility, there have been several cases where night lights were identified intermittently, especially in the radiochemical laboratory (aka reprocessing facility). It was also identified in March and June of last year, and considering the dates that were not examined, it is believed that the number of night lights appearing in Yongbyon was higher. I wonder what is happening here in the middle of the night at dawn. It may be a situation related to emergency facility maintenance or renovation at night. Also, it seems possible that it is the light from the headlights of a motorcade that secretly brings spent fuel rods from the reactor area to the radiochemical laboratory at night. It is believed that North Korea may be acting like a night cat, playing hide-and-seek at night to avoid the international satellite surveillance network.

Source: www.dailynk.com