North Korea Expands Nuclear Material Production Infrastructure With New Yongbyon Facility

North Korea has constructed a new uranium enrichment facility at its main nuclear complex in Yongbyon, with the building potentially capable of housing up to 28 cascades of gas centrifuges, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported.

The IAEA based its assessment on satellite imagery and open-source information, including photographs released by North Korean state media. The agency has relied on remote monitoring to track Pyongyang’s nuclear activities since its inspectors were expelled from the country in 2009.

The available evidence indicates that North Korea continues to expand its nuclear infrastructure at multiple locations, according to the agency.

At the Yongbyon nuclear complex, IAEA experts identified a newly constructed two-story building as a second uranium enrichment facility. The assessment was made by comparing satellite imagery documenting the building’s construction with photographs released during North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to the site in June.

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According to the report, images from the visit showed cascades of gas centrifuges installed on both floors of the main building. Based on the available imagery, the IAEA estimated that the facility could accommodate as many as 28 centrifuge cascades.

The development comes amid continued operation of North Korea’s uranium enrichment facilities at both Yongbyon and Kangson, raising concerns over the country’s capacity to produce nuclear material.

North Korea’s continued development of its nuclear program remains in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

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The expansion of nuclear infrastructure comes as Pyongyang has also strengthened the legal framework governing the use of its nuclear arsenal. North Korea amended its constitution to require an automatic nuclear response if Kim Jong Un is killed.

Separate legislation establishes Kim as the sole commander of the country’s nuclear forces and stipulates that if the nuclear command system comes under threat from an enemy attack, “a nuclear strike is carried out automatically and immediately.”

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