North Korea has constructed a new two-storey uranium enrichment facility at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex, a development described as a cause for "serious concern" by the head of the world's nuclear watchdog. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that the new building is capable of housing up to 28 centrifuge cascades used to enrich uranium.
This new construction is part of a broader pattern of expansion in North Korea's nuclear program. In a report released late last month, the IAEA also noted that Pyongyang has begun operating an expanded annex at another enrichment site in Kangson, near the capital. The agency first identified the possibility of the new Yongbyon building earlier in the year, with a specific mention in June when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited what was described as a "newly inaugurated nuclear materials production factory." According to the IAEA, Kim praised the country's "greatly expanded production capacity," suggesting plans for larger endeavors.
The IAEA's assessments rely on satellite imagery, as the agency has had no inspectors in North Korea since the country expelled them in 2009. The agency stated that the continuation and development of North Korea's nuclear program represent "clear violations of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and are deeply regrettable."
Experts indicate that North Korea's nuclear program continues to accelerate under Kim Jong Un, who has overseen a record number of missile tests, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) since 2017. The country has conducted six nuclear weapons tests to date, with the last occurring in September 2017. Despite its economic challenges, North Korea reportedly spends millions annually on its nuclear arsenal. A 2022 report estimated this figure at $640 million.
"What makes North Korea's nuclear programme so concerning is that many of its facilities are unknown, concealed, and thus difficult to target," Edward Howell, a lecturer at the University of Oxford, told the BBC. He added that "Beyond Yongbyon, we know that other facilities exist: Kangson, for instance. The embeddedness of North Korea's nuclear doctrine within its foreign and domestic policy means that we should expect there to be more concealed production sites."