IAEA warns: North Korea expands uranium enrichment capabilities

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported that North Korea has built a new two-story uranium enrichment facility at the Yongbyon nuclear complex, capable of housing up to 28 centrifuges. The agency's report states that the construction raises "serious concerns" and constitutes a violation of UN resolutions. Meanwhile, there are indications of an additional enrichment facility at the Kangson plant, near Pyongyang.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has published a report updating that North Korea has built a new two-story uranium enrichment facility at the Yongbyon nuclear complex. The facility can accommodate up to 28 centrifuges and joins existing infrastructure in the country. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that the continued development of North Korea's nuclear program constitutes a "clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions and is very regrettable." The agency's previous report from last month stated that the construction raises "serious concerns." According to reports, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the site in June, inspected the new facility, and said that "the facility will allow us to carry out even larger plans." The report also states that there are indications North Korea has begun building an additional enrichment facility at the Kangson plant, near the capital Pyongyang. If both facilities operate simultaneously, they would allow the country to increase the scale of uranium enrichment, a material that can also be used for nuclear weapons production. IAEA inspectors have not been in the country since 2009, and monitoring is conducted through satellite imagery and other sources. The report comes against the backdrop of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's proposal to hold negotiations for an official declaration ending the war between the two sides, a move he says could help curb Pyongyang's progress in developing its nuclear capabilities.