Chapter 3 -- An Overhead Tour: The Yongbyon Nuclear Site1
by David Albright and Corey Hinderstein
Figure III.4 The February 2000 Ikonos image shows a close-up of the original nuclear site, containing the IRT reactor, the Isotope Production Laboratory, and the Institute of Radiochemistry. We were unable to identify the exact location of the latter two facilities. We believe that the Institute of Radiochemistry is located in the building we have called the "old laboratory." The Isotope Production Laboratory is believed to have started in one of the old laboratories, but was expanded into one of the new laboratories. Also visible are a steam plant, administration buildings, and workshops for making piping and other items needed during construction. North Korea separated its first plutonium in the Isotope Production Laboratory.
