posted on Mar, 3 2005 @ 05:41 AM
U.S planes have detected a radioactive gas emitted during the extraction of plutonium from spent fuel rods. These were found in atmospheric samples
collected near North Korean airspace in December
The gas, krypton 85, is an isotope that does not exist naturally. It is only emitted into the atmosphere when spent fuel rods are cut open and
plutonium is extracted. The krypton 85 gas was also detected when the North Koreans declared they had completed their reprocessing in July, 2003, it
has not been detected since then.
Only a limited number of U.S. officials were told that krypton 85 had been detected, and analysis is still underway to determine the time and place of
emission.
english.chosun.com
Using WC-135B weather reconnaissance aircraft flying over the East Sea, the U.S. military monitors North Korea's nuclear activities by taking
samples of air coming from North Korea.
The U.S. also uses satellites to monitor the 5,000 kW experimental graphite nuclear reactors at North Korea's known Yongbyon nuclear facility.
Judging by the temperature of structures at the facility and the steam emitted by its boilers, the U.S. believes that activity at the Yongbyon
facility has been on hold since Sept. 2003, two months after Pyongyang's announcement that it completed reprocessing.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
This is a very worrying find. Why is N. Korea building these plants? Surely for one reason, weapons of mass destruction. The argument held though is
'Hey U.S have them, why can't we'. I personally believe all Nukes, A-Bombs etc. should be destroyed, or even better, never created in the first
place.
Related News Links:
www.theage.com.au
english.chosun.com
Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
NEWS: Mushroom Cloud Seen After N.Korea Explosion 9/9/04
POLITICS: North Korea Raises Threats Of Nuclear War
[edit on 3-3-2005 by phixion]
[edit on 3-3-2005 by phixion]