VIENNA, March 3 (UPI) -- The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday in Vienna that with nuclear power on the rise, more protections are needed to counter threats.
Mohamed ElBaradei, IAEA director general, said that while safety measures for nuclear power have improved, an expansion in the use of nuclear energy requires more work to combat potential terrorist threats and other malicious acts, the United Nations reported.
ElBaradei, who introduced the 2008 Nuclear Safety Review, said that the IAEA continues to closely "monitor and verify" the status of the Yongbyon nuclear facilities in North Korea.
In response to ongoing international concerns over Iran's nuclear program, ElBaradei said that Iran has shown a "lack of cooperation" with the IAEA and there is uncertainty about the potential for a military dimension their program.
"Unless Iran implements the transparency measures and the additional protocol, as required by the (U.N.) Security Council, the IAEA will not be in a position to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran," ElBaradei said in a statement.
