N. Korea Seen Working on New Reactor

"New satellite images of a North Korean nuclear site and a recent visit to the North by two American experts suggest that Pyongyang has started work on a new reactor." What does this mean exactly? In-fact, "Light-water reactors are typically used to generate electricity for civilian purposes and are considered relatively safe in terms of proliferation risks." Experts at the institute that issued this statement estimated that a new reactor that would need the ability to generate about 30 megawatts would actually need several tons of low enriched uranium to even start this reactor, and another ton of uranium every year as “reloads.” Is this another blown up thing in the media or is this a reason for great concern in world politics? "These values could vary depending on the design of the reactor and whether it will be optimized for electricity production or weapon-grade plutonium production for weapons,” the security institute he wrote in a report. Personally, whenever another county does anything that threatens the lives of other individuals unjustly, sanctions must be issued.

By: Chase Pavlick

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/20/world/asia/20korea.html?_r=1&ref=world