IAEA Team en Route to North Korean Nuclear Facilities

Published Date: 13 July 2007

© IAEA On 9 July 2007 Agency experts were given the green light to return to monitor and verify the shutdown of the Yongbyon nuclear facility in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), by the IAEA Board of Governors. Extensive preparations are now underway for the anticipated return of the IAEA to Yongbyon, after more than four years absence. An IAEA inspector prepares a container with a surveillance camera being readied for shipment to North Korea. Surveillance cameras like this one will be installed to monitor the shutdown of the Yongbyon nuclear facilities. Seals like these will be used in North Korea. They can show evidence of any unauthorised attempt to gain access to secured material or equipment. An inspector inside the equipment room housing all standard IAEA equipment that may be used at the nuclear facility at Yongbyon. The IAEA team will have in hand, devices like this HM-5. It's a multifunction hand-held radiation measurement system. It's a powerful tool that detects gamma radiation that can verify the absence, or confirm the presence, of plutonium or uranium. An IAEA inspector holds a typical "inspector toolkit" that will be used in North Korea. A view inside a typical inspector's toolkit. It contains electronic devices approved for use by Agency inspectors in all countries, including the DPRK. This one contains devices like the HM-5, a digital camera, voice recorder, and a distance meter - all important tools that help inspectors in their daily work. While inspectors prepare for the resumption of activities in the DPRK, the IAEA Director General Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei briefed reporters on their imminent return. On 12 July an IAEA team of experts gathers at the Agency's Vienna headquarters ready to depart for North Korea. The team is the first to return to monitor the shutdown of the Yongbyon nuclear facilities, after a four-and-a-half year absence. Last to leave, first to return. In December 2002 this inspector witnessed the dismantling of IAEA surveillance equipment at the Yongbyon 5MW reactor. Now she is going back, to verify the shutdown. The IAEA team boards the bus to the Vienna airport. Worldwide interest is high in the return of the IAEA to North Korea. The team checks in at the Vienna airport under the media glare. Adel Tolba heads the IAEA expert team. The team arrives in Beijing Capital International Airport on 13 July 2007 before the last leg of their journey to North Korea. A member of the team checks that all the equipment has arrived. About one tonne of IAEA equipment is being sent for the team to use to verify and monitor the shutdown. The IAEA team checks in for their Pyongyang flight at Beijing Capital International Airport, 14 July 2007. Their one tonne of equipment is seen in the background. © IAEA