North Korea expands nuclear weapons capacity with new uranium facility

The International Atomic Energy Agency said North Korea is building a new uranium enrichment facility at its Yongbyon nuclear site, marking a concerning acceleration of the country's nuclear weapons programme. The Vienna-based watchdog flagged the development as part of ongoing monitoring efforts focused on the isolated nation's nuclear activities.

The construction represents a significant expansion of Pyongyang's capacity to produce highly enriched uranium suitable for nuclear weapons. Satellite imagery and intelligence assessments have identified the new facility at the sprawling Yongbyon complex, a long-standing centre of North Korea's nuclear weapons development efforts.

The IAEA emphasised that the facility's development poses a deepening threat to regional and international security. The agency has limited access to North Korea and relies heavily on satellite imagery and intelligence sharing to track the country's nuclear programme following the breakdown of diplomatic engagement in recent years.

The discovery comes amid persistent tensions on the Korean Peninsula and underscores the challenges faced by the international community in addressing North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Regional governments, including South Korea and Japan, have expressed concern over the accelerating pace of weapons development.