The Yongbyon nuclear complex was the former site of plutonium production to be used in North Korean nuclear weapons production. The cooling tower for the plutonium reactor was demolished back in 2008 as part of the six-party nuclear talks that discussed the denuclearization of North Korea. Those talks ceased in December '08, and in 2009 North Korea said it was ending its participation in future talks and would resume the production of plutonium.
The satellite photos of Yongbyon below show the site after the cooling tower was destroyed, and then again today with obvious activity in the former cooling tower location. What the satellite imagery doesn't show what it is exactly what it is that North Korea is building, only that construction is taking place.
The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) states that while the exact nature of the construction cannot be determined, this development definitely bears watching.
This activity is occurring in conjunction with what appears to be preparations for a change in leadership when Kim Jong Il will be pass the baton to his son, Kim Jong Un. It would not be beyond reason to believe that they would like to have a significant military development accompany this change.
For now we wait and see.
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