IAEA concerned about North Korea's re-opening of nuclear test site

VIENNA, June 5 (KUNA) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Monday voiced deep concern over the re-opening of North Korea's Nuclear Test Site. "Since my statement to the Board in March 2023, the IAEA has continued to monitor the DPRK's nuclear programme. The Nuclear Test Site at Punggye-ri remains prepared to support a nuclear test," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in a speech before the IAEA's Board of Governors Monday.
"We continue to see indications of activity near Adit 3 and in the support area. The reopening of the nuclear test site is deeply troubling," he said.
He indicated that the conduct of a nuclear test would contravene UN Security Council resolutions and would be a cause for serious concern.
Grossi noted that since March 2023, the Agency has seen indications of ongoing operation of nuclear facilities, and a significant increase in construction work, at the Yongbyon site.
The continuation of the DPRK's nuclear programme is a "clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and is deeply regrettable", he stressed. The Agency continues to maintain its enhanced readiness to play its essential role in verifying the DPRK's nuclear programme, he said.
As far as implementation of safeguards in the Syrian Arab Republic is concerned, Grossi said that "no new information has come to the knowledge of the Agency that would affect our assessment on the building destroyed at Dair Alzour, consistent with it being a nuclear reactor that should have been declared to the Agency by Syria pursuant to its NPT Safeguards Agreement". (end) amq.hm