UN watchdog warns of ‘serious increase’ in North Korea’s nuclear weapons capability

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, has warned that North Korea is rapidly expanding its nuclear weapons production capacity.

Speaking in Seoul on Wednesday, Grossi said the agency has observed heightened activity across several of the country’s nuclear facilities, particularly at the Yongbyon complex.

“In our periodic assessments, we have been able to confirm that there’s a rapid increase in the operations” of the Yongbyon reactor, he said.

According to the IAEA, there has also been increased activity at Yongbyon’s reprocessing unit and light-water reactor, alongside signs of new facility operations.

“All that points to a very serious increase in the capabilities of (the) DPRK in the area of nuclear weapons production, which is estimated at a few dozen warheads,” Grossi stated.

North Korea has remained diplomatically isolated and under UN sanctions since conducting its first nuclear test in 2006. It expelled IAEA inspectors in 2009 and has since maintained and expanded its nuclear programme.

Grossi disclosed that the agency has identified construction of a facility similar to Yongbyon’s uranium enrichment plant, suggesting a further boost in production capacity.

“It was not easy to calculate” the exact scale of the increase without on-site inspections, he said, but added that external observations indicate “significant increase in the enrichment capacity of the DPRK.”

A recent report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies also pointed to the completion of a new building at Yongbyon, based on April satellite imagery showing key infrastructure such as generators and cooling units.

On reports of possible Russian support, Grossi said there was no concrete evidence so far.

“We have not seen anything in particular in that regard… this is too early days to judge,” he noted.

Amid rising concerns, South Korea reiterated efforts to reduce tensions and pursue peaceful engagement, while defence cooperation among Seoul, Washington and Tokyo continues to address growing regional threats.

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