IAEA Offers North Korea Three Options to Break Inspection Deadlock

Strategic Insights -

The International Atomic Energy Agency has offered North Korea three options to break the deadlock on international inspection of Pyongyang's spent nuclear fuel, in an effort to defuse a potential crisis. The options, sent to North Korea's Atomic Energy Department, were forwarded by the United Nations Security Council to try to address the dispute. Diplomats have said that economic sanctions remain the only alternative in case North Korea rejects nuclear safeguards imposed by the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

Key Takeaways:

  • The IAEA has offered North Korea three options to break the deadlock on international inspection of Pyongyang's spent nuclear fuel: to allow the agency to select, segregate, and secure rods in fuel channels, to implement requests made by IAEA inspectors concerning taking samples from the core discharge, or to suspend the remaining part of the core discharge until agreement is reached on safeguards measures.
  • The options were described by a U.S. official as a last-ditch move to spare the international community from the difficult and dangerous task of trying to impose economic sanctions.
  • The IAEA has stated that accepting any of the options would not involve any technical or safety-related matters for North Korea.
  • Inspectors currently in North Korea would be able to take immediate measurements of the spent nuclear fuel if Pyongyang accepts one of the options.
  • The Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty's safeguards are voluntary, and North Korea has stated that it does not have to abide by them, citing its special status after suspending its treaty membership.
  • The United Nations Security Council has urged North Korea to cooperate with the IAEA and halt the removal of nuclear fuel rods, but has promised to remain vigilant on the issue.

Statistics:

  • More than half of the 5 megawatts nuclear reactor at Yongbyon has had its fuel rods removed, with over 2.5 megawatts worth of fuel resting in channels.
  • Channels important for future measurements are being discharged without adequate identification and segregation by the agency.
  • The IAEA has stated that its ability to take measures could already have been lost irretrievably, due to the extensive progress made in discharging the nuclear reactor.
  • Inspectors currently in North Korea could take immediate measurements of the spent nuclear fuel if Pyongyang accepts one of the options.

Sources:

  • United Nations officials
  • Pak Yong Nam, director of North Korea's Atomic Energy Department
  • IAEA Director Hans Blix
  • U.S. official in Washington
  • United Nations Security Council statement
  • Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty