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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| N. Korea provided raw uranium to Syria in 2007: sources |
| 2010-02-28 |
| [Kyodo: Korea] North Korea provided about 45 tons of ""yellowcake"" uranium to Syria in September 2007 for production of fuel for an undeclared nuclear reactor, diplomatic and military sources knowledgeable on North Korean issues said Saturday. But the shipment was followed shortly by an Israeli air strike targeting the reactor and the uranium involved is believed to have been transferred to Iran around last summer, according to a Western diplomatic source. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 I'd say yes. The NorK reactor is really low temp/tech and doesn't require exotic materials. A little reduction, melting and machining. It's purpose is to produce plutonium, not efficiently produce electricity. Photo of NorK fuel rod. North Korea provided about 45 tons of ""yellowcake"" uranium to Syria and from the link in comment #4: The Yongbyon reactor is a gas-graphite reactor of some 25 MW thermal output which went into operation in 1986. The reactor has 801 channels for stacking fuel rods (10 fuel rods stuck in each channel) and for guiding control rods. Each fuel rod has diameter of 3cm and length of 50 cm. On an assumption that the 750 of these channels were occupied by fuel, the total fuel would be around 45 tons. Coincidence? |
| Posted by: ed 2010-02-28 12:52 |
| #5 Does Syria have the ability to fabricate fuel rods? |
| Posted by: john frum 2010-02-28 12:31 |
| #4 so why sell yellowcake? The NorK graphite reactor built for the Syrians uses unenriched uranium. |
| Posted by: ed 2010-02-28 11:14 |
| #3 I forgot 5. That's what the customer asked for. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2010-02-28 09:49 |
| #2 so why sell yellowcake? 1. Excess inventory. 2. Productions problems. 3. It's really sulphur. 4. The Price is Right. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2010-02-28 09:49 |
| #1 I'm thinking b.s. The Norks are more than capable of producing weapons grade uranium, likely plutonium, so why sell yellowcake? Even if it was just for the production of power, by selling enriched uranium, the Syrians could slap together a nuke plant overnight and start cranking out energy. This would mean that the Norks could ship far less cargo, and make a lot more money in the deal. And it also raises the question of why they didn't provide this to Iran. Or maybe they did? |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-02-28 09:45 |