While every global headline has been consumed by the Iran war, North Korea has been quietly accelerating its nuclear weapons programme at a pace the IAEA says it has never seen before.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed this week during a visit to Seoul that his agency has observed a rapid increase in operations at North Korea’s main Yongbyon nuclear complex, including its reactor, reprocessing unit and light-water reactor. A new enrichment facility is also under construction nearby, suggesting a significant expansion of uranium enrichment capacity is already underway.
North Korea is estimated to possess a few dozen nuclear warheads and is believed capable of producing 10 to 20 new ones per year. The country cut off IAEA inspectors in 2009 and has repeatedly vowed it will never surrender its weapons, viewing them as the ultimate guarantee against regime change.
When asked whether Russia was helping North Korea develop nuclear weapons, Grossi said the IAEA had not seen anything conclusive but that it was too early to judge. North Korea has been sending troops and artillery to support Russia in Ukraine and is widely believed to be receiving military technology in return.
The Iran war has the world’s attention. Kim Jong Un is making the most of every distracted moment.
Sources: Al Jazeera · Euronews · AFP
