The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy

  • 3

    Samsung unveils new Galaxy S23 smartphone

  • 5

    Pyongyang threatens eye-for-eye response as US B-1B bombers join drills in South Korea

  • 7

    Police to introduce new measures to better handle intoxicated people

  • 9

    Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee team up for coming-of-age film 'Soulmate'

  • 11

    Girl group NewJeans sweeps top 3 spots on Melon's monthly chart for Jan.

  • 13

    Woman in mysterious child death case gets suspended prison term in retrial

  • 15

    Gov't announces measures to cope with shortage of surgeons

  • 17

    INTERVIEWUS-NK summit is unlikely in 2023: Korea Society

  • 19

    Seoul, US hold combined air drills, involving B-1B bomber, F-22, F-35 stealth fighters

  • 2

    Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers

  • 4

    ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views

  • 6

    INTERVIEWA touch of authenticity in Korea's Mexican cuisine scene

  • 8

    Teens feel peer pressure to buy luxury goods endorsed by K-pop stars

  • 10

    Korean iPhone users lose 'batterygate' lawsuit

  • 12

    Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth'

  • 14

    INTERVIEW'Extended deterrence is best option to ensure peace on Korean Peninsula'

  • 16

    Korea to root out 'jeonse scam,' support victims

  • 18

    Itaewon tragedy's bereaved families harassed by far-right protesters

  • 20

    INTERVIEWIMF expects no recession for Korean economy

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sat, February 4, 2023 | 09:19
NK claims progress in uranium production
北 "경수로·저농축우라늄 빠르게 추진중"
Posted : 2011-11-30 16:53
Updated : 2011-11-30 16:53
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By Kim Young-jin

North Korea said Wednesday it is making solid progress in efforts to produce low-enriched uranium to power a light water reactor (LWR) now under construction, defying demands from Seoul and Washington to halt the enrichment program ahead of possible denuclearization talks.

"The construction of an experimental LWR and the low enriched uranium for the provision of raw materials are progressing apace," the North's foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the mouthpiece Korean Central News Agency (KNCA), repeating its claim the work was for civilian purposes.

The uranium enrichment program (UEP), which the North disclosed in November 2010, has become a major sticking point in efforts to resume the stalled international negotiations over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program. The South, the United States and other countries want it to halt the activities in a verifiable manner before heading back to the table.

Despite the North’s claims, analysts worry that completion of the LWR, which it began building last year, could allow Pyongyang to claim it is operating the UEP to fuel the reactor while secretly producing uranium for nuclear weapons. The reactor would also violate existing U.N. Security Council resolutions, officials say.

The statement blamed Seoul and Washington for blocking the six-party talks that also involve Japan, Russia and China, demanding piecemeal concessions instead of a “grand bargain” approach espoused by the Lee Myung-bak administration.

"The U.S. and its allies groundlessly took issue with the DPRK's just nuclear activities for peaceful purposes, deliberately laying a stumbling block in the way of settling the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and negotiations," it said.

Analysts said the North could be ratcheting up pressure in a bid to quickly resume the talks from which it stands to gain massive economic and energy assistance. Pyongyang is said to be doing all it can to secure aid before April when it will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of its late founder, Kim Il-sung and has promised to emerge as a “strong and prosperous” state.

Pyongyang walked away from the talks in 2009 in response to international sanctions for its nuclear and missile tests before raising the stakes by revealing the UEP and launching two deadly attacks on the South. But since July, it has been meeting with Seoul and Washington in a bid to resume the talks, “without preconditions,” a scenario the allies reject.

Pyongyang has sought LWRs since the mid 1980s. Under a 1994 deal with the United States, it was to have received two reactors in exchange for dismantling its plutonium-based program. But the deal fell through amid suspicions over the UEP.

Recent commercial satellite imagery has confirmed progress on the LWR at the North’s main Yongbyon nuclear complex. Pyongyang claims it will soon be operational though some officials doubt whether the isolated state has the capability to run it.

Analysts remain skeptical over whether the North would ever give up its nuclear program even if negotiations resume, saying it would be difficult for the regime to relinquish the program that has become its greatest bargaining chip and claim to deterrence.

北 "경수로·저농축우라늄 빠르게 추진중"
북한은 30일 시험용 경수로 건설과 저농축 우라늄 생산이 빠르게 추진되고 있다고 밝혔다. 외무성 대변인은 이날 담화를 통해 "자립적 민족경제의 튼튼한 토대와 최첨단을 향해 발전하는 과학기술에 의거해 시험용 경수로 건설과 그 연료 보장을 위한 저농축 우라늄 생산이 빠른 속도로 추진되고 있다"고 밝혔다고 조선중앙통신이 전했다. 대변인은 "우려되는 것이 있다면 6자회담에서 얼마든지 논의할 수 있고 국제원자력기구(IAEA)를 통해 그의 평화적 성격을 확인시켜줄 수 있다는 신축성 있는 입장도 표명했다"며 "미국과 그 추종세력은 우리의 정당한 평화적 핵활동을 걸고들면서 대화와 협상을 통해 핵문제의 해결에 인위적인 장애를 조성하고 있다"고 주장했다. 이 같은 입장은 우라늄 농축 등 핵활동 중단을 요구하고 있는 미국과 한국 정부의 입장에 대해 사실상 거부 의사를 밝힌 것으로 풀이된다. 대변인은 "모든 당사국들이 9·19공동성명에서 공약한 의무를 동시행동원칙에 따라 성실하게 이행할 때만 조선반도 비핵화의 전망이 열릴 수 있다"며 "우리는 전제조건 없이 6자회담을 재개하고 동시행동 원칙에 따라 9·19공동성명을 단계별로 이행해 나갈 준비가 되어 있다"고 기존입장을 되풀이했다. 이어 "자기 할 바는 하지 않고 남에게 일방적인 요구를 강박하려는 것은 용납될 수 없다"며 "우리의 평화적 핵활동을 비법화하거나 무한정 지연시키려는 시도는 단호하고 결정적인 대응조치를 불러오게 될 것"이라고 경고했다. (연합)
Emailyjk@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1Teens feel peer pressure to buy luxury goods endorsed by K-pop stars Teens feel peer pressure to buy luxury goods endorsed by K-pop stars
2Itaewon tragedy's bereaved families harassed by far-right protestersItaewon tragedy's bereaved families harassed by far-right protesters
3Plan to construct new memorial center for ex-president faces backlash Plan to construct new memorial center for ex-president faces backlash
4Too many emergency text alerts? Gov't to halt daily COVID-19 notifications Too many emergency text alerts? Gov't to halt daily COVID-19 notifications
5First lady expands presence in domestic politics First lady expands presence in domestic politics
6Able C&C sale attracts dozens of potential buyers Able C&C sale attracts dozens of potential buyers
7FSC OKs Apple Pay to be available in Korea FSC OKs Apple Pay to be available in Korea
8K bank decides to delay IPO plan K bank decides to delay IPO plan
9SEMICON Korea defies chip industry downturn SEMICON Korea defies chip industry downturn
10Gov't to provide $293 billion in trade financing to revitalize exports Gov't to provide $293 billion in trade financing to revitalize exports
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy
2ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views
3Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee team up for coming-of-age film 'Soulmate' Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee team up for coming-of-age film 'Soulmate'
4Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth' Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth'
5'Ant-Man 3' promises bigger, better action with same family dynamic: cast 'Ant-Man 3' promises bigger, better action with same family dynamic: cast
DARKROOM
  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

  • World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

    World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group