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North Korea Is Believed To Be Reprocessing Uranium Cell Rods

Aired July 12, 2003 - 14:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


RHONDA SHAFFLER, CNN ANCHOR: New signs today that's North Korea is moving ahead with plans to construct a nuclear device, CNN's Chris Plante is at the Pentagon with this story -- Chris.
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi Rhonda that is right. U.S. intelligence indicates they have picked up traces of what they call krypton 85, is a gas that is released in the air when there's reprocessing of nuclear materials. And they say that's what's going on at the nuclear facility in Yongbyon in central North Korea. This facility has stored in it some 8000 spent nuclear fuel rods from nuclear power plants in North Korea. The belief is, at this point, that North Korea is reprocessing these rods into plutonium that can be used into nuclear weapons. We see here a digital image, a satellite image, of that plant in central North Korea, Younbyon.

It is a matter of concern, of course, because North Korea in 1994, signed on to an agreed framework in which they said they would not pursue nuclear weapons in exchange for some assistance with energy and other economic assistance from the United States. This appears to violate that agreement, along with a number of other violations in the recent past. There's been a good deal of tension between the United States and North Korea over this and some is other issues, but this being the primary area of concern for the United States.

So intelligence had picked this up in air samples collected downwind from Yongbyon. And this is another indication that North Korea is in violation. Maintaining a belligerent posture with regard to this agreement this agreement -- this 1994 agreement. And it continues to be a major issue. It is unclear whether this will heat up the situation between the United States and North Korea -- Rhonda.

SCHAFFLER: Chris Plante at the Pentagon, following that story, appreciate it Chris.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




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Aired July 12, 2003 - 14:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RHONDA SHAFFLER, CNN ANCHOR: New signs today that's North Korea is moving ahead with plans to construct a nuclear device, CNN's Chris Plante is at the Pentagon with this story -- Chris.
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi Rhonda that is right. U.S. intelligence indicates they have picked up traces of what they call krypton 85, is a gas that is released in the air when there's reprocessing of nuclear materials. And they say that's what's going on at the nuclear facility in Yongbyon in central North Korea. This facility has stored in it some 8000 spent nuclear fuel rods from nuclear power plants in North Korea. The belief is, at this point, that North Korea is reprocessing these rods into plutonium that can be used into nuclear weapons. We see here a digital image, a satellite image, of that plant in central North Korea, Younbyon.

It is a matter of concern, of course, because North Korea in 1994, signed on to an agreed framework in which they said they would not pursue nuclear weapons in exchange for some assistance with energy and other economic assistance from the United States. This appears to violate that agreement, along with a number of other violations in the recent past. There's been a good deal of tension between the United States and North Korea over this and some is other issues, but this being the primary area of concern for the United States.

So intelligence had picked this up in air samples collected downwind from Yongbyon. And this is another indication that North Korea is in violation. Maintaining a belligerent posture with regard to this agreement this agreement -- this 1994 agreement. And it continues to be a major issue. It is unclear whether this will heat up the situation between the United States and North Korea -- Rhonda.

SCHAFFLER: Chris Plante at the Pentagon, following that story, appreciate it Chris.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




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