SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) — The following is a summary of external news of North Korea this week. ———— Defense chief says N. Korea’s light-water reactor likely to be in full operation next summer SEOUL — North Korea’s experimental light-water nuclear reactor is expected to be in full-fledged operation next summer, South Korea’s defense chief has said, although it is unlikely to be used to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons. Defense Minister Shin Won-sik made the remark to reporters Thursday after International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi renewed concerns last week over signs of activity at the reactor in the North’s main Yongbyon nuclear complex. ———— (LEAD) U.S. reaffirms ‘no hostile intent’ to N. Korea after Kim…
