(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) North Korea seems to be expanding facilities at the Yongbyon nuclear site, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Monday.
Yukiya Amano said satellite images showed "renovation and construction activities" at the site - 90 kilometers (55 miles) north of Pyongyang and the heart of the isolated state's efforts to build a nuclear weapon.
"These appear to be broadly consistent with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's statements that it is further developing its nuclear capabilities," Amano told the board of the UN nuclear agency in Vienna.
Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a resumption of talks over North Korea's nuclear program, which had been stalled for several years, after meeting with South Korea's president in Beijing. The talks - featuring China, Russia, the U.S., Japan and the two Koreas - were last held more than six years ago.
The IAEA has been barred from inspecting the site since 2009. North Korea is believed to have carried out three nuclear tests since 2006.
Tensions remain high between North and South Korea, exacerbated by cross-border artillery exchanges last month.
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