DPRK nuclear progress recognized at the level of the IAEA
According to the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, the situation with the development of nuclear weapons by North Koreans is “very bad”, and therefore “there is no reason to remain optimistic.”
However, how truthful is Amano? Where did he get the relevant information? Pyongyang does not give out its secrets to the right and left, there are no snowfalls there.
Diplomatic source "Kommersant" in Moscow, notes that the information of Mr. Amano "unreliable." Moreover, Amano is “not authorized” to make statements of this kind.
The statement of the IAEA Director General appeared in the American edition of The Wall Street Journal. A nuclear expert told reporters that the North Korean authorities are not bluffing about their great progress in developing nuclear weapons.
As evidence, Mr. Amano cited a noticeable expansion of the nuclear research center in Yongbyon: since 2010, the area of the object on which uranium is enriched has increased no less than twice. In addition, DPRK continues to produce plutonium.
However, the head of the IAEA did not go into details. He did not specify how many nuclear warheads the DPRK arsenals have. According to American and Chinese intelligence reports from Kommersant, the number of warheads can be as low as forty.
Amano is also alarmed by the "politicization" of the relevant issue. He believes that the existing nuclear problem could be resolved through a political agreement with Pyongyang, but the signing of such a document in the foreseeable future is hardly possible due to the "extreme politicization of the issue." Therefore, there is no reason to remain optimistic.
Earlier, we recall, the administration of President Trump in the person of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made it clear that her “strategic patience” with regard to the nuclear DPRK was over. The State Department did not hide: Washington is considering new measures of influence on Pyongyang. Tillerson reported this during a visit to Seoul.
“Of course, we do not want to bring the matter to a military conflict. But it is obvious that if North Korea takes actions that threaten the South Korean or our troops, the answer will be adequate. If its armaments program reaches such a threatening level that it requires military action from us, then we also have this option, ”the secretary of state quoted. "BBC".
At the same time, Mr. Tillerson proposed to introduce sanctions against Pyongyang to the Chinese.
Obviously, in the coming weeks and months, international pressure on North Korea will increase. However, one should not expect a turn in nuclear policy from Kim Jong-un. Rather, the result will be the opposite.
Mr. Amano really has no reason to be optimistic.
Information