North Korea escalated a nuclear standoff with the US and its allies yesterday, declaring it has solved "all the technological matters" involved in using plutonium extracted from its 8,000 spent nuclear fuel rods to build atomic bombs.
The communist state said Thursday that it had completed reprocessing the rods, and had made a "switchover in the use of plutonium" obtained from those rods for increasing its "nuclear deterrent force" against what it calls a US plan to invade.
"All the technological matters have been solved fully in the process of making a switchover in the use of plutonium," said the North's official news agency, KCNA.
KCNA did not elaborate. It appeared to be saying that North Korea had no technical problems in reprocessing the rods and using plutonium for weapons purposes. North Korean statements are often vaguely worded in an apparent attempt to create uncertainty.
If true, the claim was a clear indication that North Korea was using plutonium from the rods to build weapons. When reprocessed with chemicals, the 8,000 rods can yield enough plutonium to make five or six bombs, according to experts. American intelligence analysts believe North Korea already has at least one or two nuclear bombs.
North Korea says it needs a nuclear deterrent against the US, which it accuses of planning to invade. Washington says it has no such intention.
The North has made similar provocative statements since the crisis over its nuclear programs started a year ago. The US and South Korean officials were investigating whether the announcement was a sign North Korea has turned its back on the possibility of giving up its nuclear capabilities, or was an attempt to gain leverage ahead of any talks on the matter.
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