New Satellite Photos Show Construction at NoKor Nuclear Site

A U.S.-based security organization says North Korea is making progress on what Pyongyang says is a light water reactor that has raised new international concerns about the secretive North's nuclear weapons program.

The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) on Wednesday released satellite images showing construction activity at the Yongbyon nuclear complex the North Korean site where two U.S. scientists were shown a sophisticated uranium processing facility last year.

The ISIS images, taken commercially March 8, show a construction crane and what appears to be building material along with what analysts say is a 21-meter cylinder whose exact use was not clear.

Weeks later, on March 24, several South Korean news reports said separate satellite imagery showed what could be a new nuclear facility next to the cylinder. The Korean Broadcasting Service aired the imagery and highlighted another structure that the ISIS says was not present in its photos 16 days earlier.

Six-nation talks on ending North Korea's nuclear program have been suspended since 2009, when North Korea walked out in protest over criticism of its nuclear weapons and missile programs. But in recent months the North has pressed to restart the talks.

However, the United States and South Korea have demanded concrete commitments from Pyongyang before resuming negotiations, with South Korea demanding apologies from the North for an attack on a South Korean warship that killed 46 seamen last year. Pyongyang insists it had nothing to do with the sinking. The North has also refused to apologize for shelling Yeonpyeong Island in November that killed two marines and two South Korean civilians. Pyongyang says it was responding to a South Korean provocation when its forces opened fire on the island.