Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected a newly launched nuclear material production facility, committing to significantly enhance the nation's nuclear capabilities, state media reported. Kim's visit took place the previous day, accompanied by key party officials, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), although the exact location of the facility was not disclosed.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Seoul's defense ministry assessed the newly revealed site as a uranium enrichment facility. North Korea is believed to operate uranium enrichment sites at Yongbyon, Kangson, and Kusong, but it remains uncertain if this report indicates the presence of a fourth site. Experts in Seoul speculate that the facility might be a newly opened plant within the Yongbyon nuclear complex.
Kim Jong-un stated that North Korea's capacity for producing weapons-grade nuclear material has more than doubled over the past five years, crediting the advancements to the country's nuclear scientists. He emphasized the increasing urgency of enhancing the nuclear deterrent due to potential threats and unpredictable crises, indicating that Pyongyang does not intend to retreat from its nuclear ambitions.
North Korea also reported an "important consultative meeting for bolstering up the nuclear forces" held on the same day, during which Kim provided guidelines for accelerating the qualitative and quantitative buildup of Pyongyang's nuclear forces. He described it as a "historic event" that marked a significant milestone in advancing North Korea's nuclear capabilities.
Photos released by the KCNA depicted rows of cylindrical centrifuges used for uranium enrichment in the facility. Another photo showed documents, presumably related to Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, blurred on a table where Kim was seated. In February, at a key party congress, Pyongyang reaffirmed its status as an "irreversible" nuclear-armed state and pledged to strengthen its nuclear deterrent under a five-year military modernization plan.
In September 2024, North Korea disclosed its uranium enrichment facility for the first time, advocating for an increase in the number of centrifuges. At that time, Unification Minister Chung Dong-yong stated that North Korea operated four nuclear enrichment sites and possessed up to 2,000 kg of highly enriched uranium at 90 percent purity or higher.
The recent KCNA report marks Kim's third visit to a nuclear facility, following trips in September 2024 and January 2025, as noted by a unification ministry official. A Seoul foreign ministry official remarked that Pyongyang's nuclear activities violate multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions and challenge international peace, security, and the non-proliferation regime. The government continues to closely monitor North Korea's nuclear activities in coordination with allied nations.