North Korea is refurbishing its Yongbyon nuclear facilities..."Building the foundation for stockpiling nuclear materials"

Analysts say North Korea is speeding up its efforts to lay the groundwork for stockpiling nuclear bomb materials through the refurbishment of its Yongbyon nuclear facility.

38 North, a U.S. media outlet specializing in North Korea, recently analyzed satellite images of the North Korean nuclear facility complex in Yongbyon, North Pyongan Province, and found that the repair of the thermal power plant in the radiochemistry laboratory that reprocesses nuclear fuel has been completed.

It also analyzed that the 5MWe (megawatt) reactor, which plays a key role in North Korea's weapons-grade plutonium production, is being restarted after a three-month shutdown.

38 North analyzed that this seems to be in line with Kim Jong-un's order to expand North Korea's nuclear arsenal and that it is laying the groundwork for continued stockpiling of fissile materials.

However, 38 North said steam, a sign of reprocessing activity, is being discharged irregularly, estimating that reprocessing operations are not yet in full swing.