North Korea expands uranium enrichment capacity with new two-storey facility

The International Atomic Energy Agency has expressed serious concern over North Korea's construction of a two-storey uranium enrichment facility, according to the UN nuclear watchdog's latest assessment of the isolated nation's atomic weapons development.

The newly built structure represents a substantial expansion of enrichment capabilities at an existing nuclear complex, officials said. The addition signals Pyongyang's continued commitment to advancing its nuclear arsenal despite sustained international sanctions and diplomatic pressure.

The IAEA monitors North Korea's nuclear activities through satellite imagery and other intelligence-gathering methods, as international inspectors have been barred from the country since 2002. The agency's findings are typically presented in regular reports to member states and the UN Security Council.

North Korea has conducted multiple nuclear weapons tests and possesses an estimated arsenal of several dozen warheads. Recent years have seen Pyongyang pursue both technological improvements to existing weapons and expansion of production facilities, including enrichment plants critical to weapons-grade nuclear material production.

The discovery underscores persistent challenges for the international community in addressing North Korea's nuclear proliferation. Diplomatic efforts have stalled since the breakdown of negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington in 2019.