Reuters is reporting that North Korea has restarted recycling plutonium from its reactor at Yongbyon. Recycling plutonium from spent nuclear fuel is a more efficient process in creating the necessary fuel for a nuclear bomb than simply enriching uranium. The move indicates that North Korea wishes to build more bombs more quickly. No one has any firm evidence about how many bombs North Korea already has, but the accelerated building process is curious. North Korea already has a sufficient number of weapons to deter an attack from a nuclear power. Perhaps it is building more for sale on the black market.
Exhaust plumes seen at Yongbyon’s Radiochemical Laboratory’s Thermal Plant.
There was a car bomb attack yesterday that killed 11 people in Istanbul. It was the third such attack in recent weeks and it suggests that the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) is redoubling its efforts to enforce its demands for greater Kurdish autonomy within the Turkish state. Popular support for Kurdish demands within Turkey seems to be waning, but Kurdish successes in Syria against Daesh (the Islamic State) seems to have embolden some Kurds to demand greater respect.
On 23 June British voters will decide whether Great Britain remains in the European Union. The media refers to the possibility of a British departure as a “Brexit” and the polls indicate that the decision will be a close one. The British Prime minister, David Cameron, is campaigning hard for Britain to remain in the Union, but the tide seems to be running against the Union throughout Europe. According to Reuters:
“The fall was most pronounced in France, where only 38 percent of respondents said they had a favourable view of the EU, down 17 points from last year.
Favourability ratings also fell by 16 points in Spain to 47 percent, by eight points in Germany to 50 percent, and by seven points in Britain to 44 percent.”
The growing disillusionment largely reflects the stress of the refugee crisis and the economic slowdown in Europe as a whole.
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