North Korea Intensifies Nuclear Weapons Production at Alarming Pace, Major Warning Issued

NORTH Korea is making “very serious” advances in its ability to produce nuclear weaponry, the IAEA has warned.

Under the guidance of dictator Kim Jong Un, the isolated nation is believed to be operating multiple uranium enrichment facilities.

Under the watchful eye of Kim Jong Un, North Korea is operating several nuclear enrichment plantsCredit: AFP North Korea is said to be seriously advancing its nuclear capabilitiesCredit: Getty

This includes one at the previously decommissioned Yongbyon nuclear site which resumed operations in 2021, according to a South Korean spy report.

These facilities are essential in the production of potentially devastating nuclear warheads.

is now thought to have approximately 50 warheads at its disposal.

“In our periodic assessments, we have been able to confirm that there’s a rapid increase in operations,” said International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi.

The agency also noted an increase in operations at Yongbyon’s reprocessing unit and light-water reactor, as well as the activation of other facilities.

“All that points to a very serious increase in the capabilities of [the] DPRK in the area of production, which is estimated a few dozen warheads,” Grossi said.

The Hermit Kingdom conducted its first nuclear test back in 2006, later cutting off access to IAEA inspectors in 2009.

It is currently the subject of a raft of UN sanctions after previously declaring it will never surrender its nuclear weapons.

Since then, the authoritarian regime is said to have acquired a working nuclear capacity that includes intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the US mainland.

Agency bosses also noted the worrying construction of a “new facility similar to the enrichment facility in Yongbyon”.

Satellite imagery obtained in April suggests this new building has generators, fuel storage tanks and cooling units.

However, without visiting the site it is “not easy to calculate” any increase in production.

“We consider, looking at the external features of the facility, that there will be a significant increase in the enrichment capacity of the DPRK,” Rossi said.

Asked whether was lending a hand in North Korea’s ongoing nuclear development, Grossi said the IAEA had not seen “anything in particular in that regard.”

Any assistance would build upon the already blossoming relationship between the two anti-western powers.

North Korea has notably sent ground troops and artillery shells to support ‘s invasion of .

Simultaneously, Pyongyang is said to be receiving military in return.

Grossi assured ‘s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun that their noisy neighbours’ nuclear activities “remained one of the IAEA’s key issues”.

In return, Cho said Seoul was working to “end hostility and confrontation” with the North Korea in the goal of pursuing peaceful coexistence.

This comes after as he observed missile tests from his new warship on Sunday.

According to the state-run Korean Central New Agency (KCNA), the despot oversaw two strategic cruise missile launches, as well as the launch of three anti-ship missiles from his 5000-ton-class destroyer.

The missiles flew “along the flight orbits set in the sky above the West Sea of Korea and struck the targets with ultra-precision hit accuracy,” the KCNA said.

Unfortunately, one of the destroyers – named Kang Kon – endured a botched launch last year, sparking Kim’s fury.

The naval destroyer ended up on its side after the launch ceremony went drastically wrong.

Satellite images later showed the warship lying on its side beside the launch dock.

However, following repairs, the Kang Kon relaunched in June after being righted using giant balloons.

Kim Jong Un beams as his latest warships show off their weapons capabilitiesCredit: EPA Rapidly developing weaponry means North Korean missiles will be able to reach the US mainlandCredit: AFP