The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog has said North Korea is making 'very serious' progress in its ability to produce more nuclear weapons, with a rapid rise in activity at its main Yongbyon complex. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirmed the acceleration during a visit to Seoul.
Grossi noted intensified work at Yongbyon's 5MW reactor, reprocessing unit and a light water reactor, while a US thinktank reported a new building intended for uranium enrichment appeared nearly operational. The Center for Strategic and International Studies said the suspected facility, along with another at Kangson, had not been declared to international authorities.
North Korea is estimated to possess about 50 nuclear warheads, though some experts doubt its ability to miniaturise them for long-range missiles. Since its first nuclear test in 2006, the regime under Kim Jong-un has developed intercontinental ballistic missiles potentially capable of reaching the US mainland.
Diplomatic efforts have stalled after failed summits between Kim and Donald Trump. South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung said in January that North Korea could produce 10 to 20 nuclear weapons annually and warned that excess material could be exported, posing a global danger.
Grossi described the nuclear programme as a 'clear violation' of UN Security Council resolutions and said the IAEA remained ready to verify it. North Korea has not conducted a nuclear test since 2017 but continues to advance its missile technology.
