Figure 1: Hungnam Chemical Complex near city of Hamhung, North Korea, June 2, 2016
Figure 2: Recent Construction at the Hungnam Chemical Complex, June 2, 2016
Posted on 03/25/2017 4:19:35 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
U.S. think tank: N. Korea operating lithium-6 plant for hydrogen bombs
By Chang Jae-soon
WASHINGTON, March 17 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is believed to have built and is operating a plant to produce lithium 6, a key ingredient for hydrogen bombs that are much more powerful than conventional nuclear weapons, a U.S. think tank claimed Friday.
The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said the plant appears be located at the Hungnam Chemical Complex near Hamhung on the North's east coast. It cited a 2012 order the North placed in China to purchase large quantities of mercury and lithium hydroxide, key materials to produce lithium 6.
"Lithium 6 is a critical raw material needed for the production of single-stage thermonuclear and boosted fission weapons. These findings add credibility to North Korea’s claims that it has been developing thermonuclear or boosted fission weapons, regardless of the actual status of those efforts," ISIS said in a report.
Lithium 6 reacts with a neutron to produce tritium, the most important thermonuclear material for weapons. When tritium fuses with deuterium (D) it releases relatively large amounts of energy and neutrons, becoming a key reaction driving a thermonuclear explosion and leading to more efficient fissioning of the plutonium or weapon-grade uranium in a weapon, the report said.
Earlier this month, the U.N. Security Council's Panel of Experts monitoring sanctions on North Korea also said that the regime attempted to sell lithium 6, an indication that the North is making more lithium 6 than it needs in its nuclear weapons program, according to ISIS.
ISIS said it believes the Hungnam Chemical Complex is the site for the lithium 6 plant because the procurement contract had handwritten notes stating that the goods were needed urgently and the procurements involved the Hungnam complex.
"The Hungnam complex makes sense for a lithium 6 production plant. This site is involved in ammonia processing and fertilizer production, and has electrolysis facilities," ISIS said.
It also said the North's plant is believed to be able to produce at least 10 kg of lithium 6 per year, an amount that would allow both the use of lithium 6 in nuclear weapons and the production of many grams of tritium per year.
"These findings add credibility to North Korea’s claims that it has been developing thermonuclear or boosted fission weapons, albeit likely crude ones that may still not work. But with more nuclear testing and time, North Korea is likely to succeed," it said.
This is going to end well. I feel it.
China has basically farmed this out to them. It probably saves them money, because Nork is putting everything into it and China only has to provide expertise and guidance. When Nork finishes, China can just take it all back to their country.
Be a shame it there was a big gas leak or something, that plant would probably blow up real good.
The Norks must be stopped from developing nuclear weapons and the ability to sling them around. A meeting must be set between China, Russia, and the US where this is understood.
I’m fairly confident we can shoot down any NK launch, but it would be nice to have a plan to detonate their package about a kilo from launch.
Lesson learned, lesson burned.
May they have a Castle Bravo moment.
Yeah...I sure don’t want to see S. Korea harmed. Had many an Army pal that rotated through there. Beautiful country!
“This tends to prove that China wants North Korea to develop these weapons.”
Agreed. But let’s not loose sight of the fact that The Clintons HELPED while the, ‘Democrat Leadership’ looked the other way!
Breaking news: the only operational WC-135 Constant Phoenix in the Air Force fleet, tail number 62-3582, made an emergency landing in Aceh, Indonesia this afternoon. Indonesia Air Force officials said the jet was enroute to Kadena AB, Okinawa when it was forced to land in Aceh, after apparently suffering an engine failure.
The WC-135 gathers airborne samples after a nuclear blast, yielding highly valuable technical information. Today’s emergency landing raises questions about the aircraft’s availability to monitor the pending NK nuclear test. Constant Phoenix platforms are home-based at Offut AFB, Nebraska, but frequently deploy to overseas locations. Kadena is the operating location for WC-135s monitoring nuclear tests in the DPRK.
http://www.voanews.com/a/us-military-plane-emergency-landing-indonesia/3781585.html
This test also irradiated a Japanese fishing boat caught in the fallout area, tragically killing several crewmembers.
However, it did give us the basis for a Japanese monster movie, “The H-Man”.
Is or isn’t?
Looking for SEAL Team 6 to fix this as soon as possible.
Giving a suicidal maniac a few hydrogen and atomic bombs always ends well.
Consequences: 30,000 arty tubes firing HE rounds at so many per minute = the City of Soul, Korea reduced to very small pieces of cement, asphalt, brick and millions of former Soul residents and visitors dead. That for starters.
Yes, but even if it is underground it is possible to search outside for Hg contaminated with Li and check the isotopes.
Bomb it!!!
Agreed.
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