SEOUL, South Korea: North Korea has revealed images of its uranium enrichment facility for the first time, showing leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the site and calling for an increase in the number of centrifuges to enhance the country’s nuclear arsenal.
These images, released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), marked the first public disclosure of such a facility, highlighting Kim’s push for self-defence through nuclear development.
During his tour of the Nuclear Weapons Institute and the “production base of weapon-grade nuclear materials,” Kim emphasized the need to “exponentially increase” the production of nuclear weapons by augmenting the number of centrifuges and introducing a “new-type centrifuge.” North Korea’s enrichment facilities are crucial for producing highly enriched uranium required for nuclear warheads.
This revelation has sparked international concern, particularly in South Korea, which condemned the move as a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. South Korea’s unification ministry criticized the North’s actions as a blatant disregard for international sanctions and stability in the region.
Experts suggest that North Korea’s disclosure is a strategic move aimed at influencing the upcoming US presidential election, signaling to the next administration the improbability of North Korea’s denuclearization. It also appears to be a demand for recognition of North Korea as a nuclear state.
The disclosed facility is believed to be the Kangson site, a secret nuclear complex near Pyongyang. Although it is unlikely that this announcement will lead to an immediate nuclear test, it highlights the ongoing tensions and the deteriorating state of relations between North and South Korea.
Additionally, Pyongyang has been conducting various provocative actions, including missile launches and sending trash-carrying balloons across the border, further escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula.
