N. Korea Reveals Uranium Enrichment Site; Kim Urges More Nuclear Weapons

Seoul, South Korea — North Korea has given an unusual insight into a clandestine facility for producing weapons-grade uranium, following a visit from leader Kim Jong Un, who called for enhanced efforts to significantly increase the country’s nuclear arsenal. This disclosure, made by state media, is the first of its kind since visitors were shown a uranium enrichment facility at the Yongbyon nuclear complex back in 2010.

This recent unveiling appears to be aimed at putting additional pressure on the United States and its allies. The visuals released by North Korean media could serve as an important resource for analysts trying to gauge the extent of nuclear material production in the country.

During his visit to the Nuclear Weapons Institute and the associated facility, Kim expressed considerable satisfaction with North Korea’s technological advancements in nuclear capabilities, as reported by the official Korean Central News Agency.

The report detailed Kim’s tour around the control room and a construction site aimed at expanding uranium production capabilities. State media imagery depicted Kim being briefed by scientists while observing extensive lines of centrifuges. Despite the release of this information, KCNA did not specify the timing or location of Kim’s visit.

Kim emphasized the necessity to boost the number of centrifuges to “exponentially increase the nuclear weapons for self-defense,” a statement that aligns with his consistent messaging over recent years. He urged officials to advance the introduction of a new type of centrifuge.

In defending his stance, Kim asserted that North Korea requires heightened defense and preemptive capabilities due to increasing nuclear threats posed by the “U.S. imperialists and their vassal forces.” This rhetoric reflects a more confrontational position, as indicated by KCNA.

In response, South Korea’s Unification Ministry strongly denounced North Korea’s intention to enhance its nuclear capabilities. The ministry characterized North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear arms—contrary to United Nations prohibitions—as a grave threat to global peace, underscoring that the nation would gain nothing from its nuclear ambitions.

North Korea first showcased its uranium enrichment site at Yongbyon in November 2010 during a visit by scholars from Stanford University, where they were informed that 2,000 centrifuges were operational at the time. Recent satellite imagery suggests ongoing expansions at the Yongbyon site.

Both highly enriched uranium and plutonium can be used to construct nuclear weapons, and North Korea reportedly has the facilities for both. Some experts believe the North could be clandestinely operating additional enrichment plants beyond Yongbyon.

Current assessments regarding North Korea’s production of weapons-grade plutonium and highly enriched uranium remain unclear. In 2018, South Korean officials estimated the nation had manufactured between 20 and 60 nuclear weapons, while some analysts argue the number could exceed 100. Annual estimates of new nuclear weapons production vary widely, ranging from six to 18.

Ankit Panda, a specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted that the released images would provide crucial insights for analysts seeking to adjust their assumptions regarding North Korea’s nuclear material stockpile. He cautioned against underestimating North Korea’s capacity to increase its fissile material production, especially concerning highly enriched uranium, which allows for greater scalability than plutonium.

According to an earlier study by Hecker and Stanford scholars, North Korea’s supply of highly enriched uranium was estimated to be between 250 to 500 kilograms (550 to 1,100 pounds), sufficient for constructing 25 to 30 nuclear devices.

The recent photographs shared by North Korea indicated the presence of approximately 1,000 centrifuges, which, if operated continuously, could yield around 20 to 25 kilograms (44 to 55 pounds) of highly enriched uranium annually, enough for a single nuclear weapon, as noted by Yang Uk, a security expert at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

The new type of centrifuge Kim seeks to implement is expected to be an advanced model made with carbon fiber, potentially enabling North Korea to produce five to ten times more highly enriched uranium than its current centrifuges, according to Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Korea’s Science and Technology Policy Institute.

Since 2022, North Korea has significantly increased its weapons testing to modernize and expand its nuclear missile capabilities aimed at the United States and South Korea. Analysts speculate that North Korea may conduct a nuclear test or long-range missile launch ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November to amplify its leverage in future negotiations with the U.S.

Yang noted that North Korea’s actions communicate that their nuclear capabilities are not mere threats but a continuous production of bomb fuel, likely aimed at both South Korea and the United States.

This latest nuclear initiative from Kim comes at a time when North Korea is strengthening its military ties with Russia. The U.S. and South Korea have accused North Korea of delivering conventional arms to support Russia’s military endeavors in Ukraine in exchange for military and economic assistance.

Recently, a Russian delegation, led by Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, visited North Korea for discussions with Kim about bilateral and international matters, marking another instance of growing cooperation. Shoigu had previously met with Kim in July 2023 during a prior visit.