North Korea on Thursday unveiled a new facility to produce weapons-grade uranium for nuclear bombs, as leader Kim Jong Un promised to “rapidly” beef up the country’s nuclear forces.
The country’s state news agency KCNA said the plant has “more sophisticated technology”, but did not provide further details. It is unclear how long the plant has been operating or where it is located.
Kim’s fight against North Korea’s ‘most brutal enemies’
KCNA published images of a centrifuge hall, which indicate that the facility is probably used to enrich weapons-grade uranium.
The agency also told Kim of the growing need to increase nuclear weapons as a war deterrent due to confrontation with “the most ruthless enemies.”
The North Korean leader said production capacity for weapons-grade uranium has more than doubled in the past five years.
After meeting with other top officials at the plant, Kim said they “confirmed the order of priority for implementing the ambitious future plan designed to rapidly increase our state’s nuclear forces,” KCNA said.
creation of nuclear power
Both Kim’s words and the nuclear fuel plant are in line with his plan to equip the country with a massive nuclear force to counter the US and South Korea.
In March, shortly after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, Kim accused Washington of “global terrorism and aggression”.
The war reinforced North Korea’s long-held view that it needed a nuclear arsenal to be able to defend itself against its two biggest enemies, South Korea and the United States.
North Korea has been subject to various international sanctions over its nuclear weapons development and use of ballistic missile technology. But Pyongyang has repeatedly violated sanctions.
In September 2024, North Korea revealed its first covered uranium-enrichment plant. Kim then gave a similar speech, which also included a call to “rapidly” expand the country’s nuclear arsenal.
In April, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi told reporters that his agency had confirmed a “rapid increase” in activities at nuclear facilities in North Korea.
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Edited by: Carl Sexton