Defiant North Korea Decides to Weaponize Plutonium
Defying UN Security Council’s move to stiffen sanctions against North Korea, Pyongyang has said that it will build up its nuclear capabilities.
According to the state-run North Korean news agency KCNA, North Korea officials said that they were enriching uranium and would weaponize all plutonium.
On enrichment at a high degree, uranium can be used for weapons-grade material while Plutonium can be used in atomic bombs.
The news agency said that these moves are in response to Friday’ UN resolution voted unanimously, which, it described as a blockade.
“No mater how hard the U.S.-led hostile forces may try all sorts of isolation and blockade, the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea), a proud nuclear power, will not flinch from them,” KCNA said.
The 15-0 vote on U.N. Resolution 1874 imposes an embargo on the shipment of arms from the communist regime and broadens a ban on the import of weapons.
The escalating tension with regard to the secluded communist state following its recent nuclear test, rockets test-firing and its threatening US and South Korean ships near its territorial waters led to the UNSC resolution.
The resolution strengthens provisions already in U.N. Resolution 1718, passed in 2006. But there are also new provisions in the resolution, said Susan E. Rice, US ambassador to the United Nations.
The new resolution requires states to “exercise vigilance” over the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to North Korea of small arms or light weapons.
