North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged an “exponential” expansion of the country’s nuclear capabilities, as state media reported his visit to a newly inaugurated nuclear materials production facility.
According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim inspected the facility on Wednesday and outlined what he described as an ambitious plan to strengthen North Korea’s nuclear forces at an exponential rate.
During the visit, Kim said the country had more than doubled its capacity to produce weapons-grade nuclear materials over the past five years.
North Korea has repeatedly rejected international pressure, particularly from the United States, to abandon its nuclear weapons programme. Pyongyang maintains that its nuclear status is irreversible and non-negotiable.
The country is believed to operate uranium enrichment facilities at Yongbyon, Kangson and Kusong. Although KCNA did not disclose the location of the newly inaugurated site, analysts suggested it was likely the recently completed uranium enrichment plant at Yongbyon.
Yang Moo-jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies, said the visit could also serve a propaganda purpose if the facility is confirmed to be in Yongbyon.
He noted that with Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile remaining a key issue in nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, North Korea may be deliberately showcasing its expanding nuclear capabilities to signal that denuclearisation is not open for negotiation with Washington.
Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said the inspection highlighted North Korea’s efforts to increase nuclear material production to meet growing demand.
He said Pyongyang had already unveiled a significant number of tactical nuclear weapons and now required additional nuclear warheads for deployment on tactical missile systems.
North Korea has conducted eight missile tests so far this year. Analysts say the launches may reflect efforts by Pyongyang to exploit weakening international norms and further solidify its status as a nuclear-armed state.
Pyongyang withdrew from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1993 and has since carried out six nuclear tests. The country remains subject to multiple United Nations sanctions and is widely believed to possess dozens of nuclear warheads.
