UN watchdog warns North Korea is boosting nuclear weapons capacity

AdvertisementNorth KoreaAsiaEast AsiaUN watchdog warns North Korea is boosting nuclear weapons capacityIAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirms a rapid rise in activity at North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear complex 2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenReutersPublished: 9:15pm, 15 Apr 2026North Korea has made “very serious” advances in its abilities to turn out nuclear weapons, with the probable addition of a new uranium enrichment facility, as it steps up activity at a key complex, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has said. Enriching uranium can provide an alternative, and experts say, a more effective, path to acquiring weapons-grade material in addition to ‌reprocessing spent plutonium extracted from a nuclear reactor. Speaking in Seoul on Wednesday, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed a rapid rise in activity at the 5-megawatt reactor, the reprocessing unit, a light water reactor and other facilities at the North’s Yongbyon nuclear complex. AdvertisementNorth Korea’s nuclear programme was estimated at a few dozen warheads, he told a news conference, citing signs of activity such as the operation of a light water reactor and activation of other facilities besides Yongbyon. “All of them point to a very serious ⁠increase in the capabilities of the DPRK in the area of nuclear weapons production,” Grossi said, using the initials of the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s ‌Republic of Korea. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi speaks during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday. Photo: EPAThe watchdog had observed construction of a new facility similar to Yongbyon’s uranium enrichment halls, he said, adding that analysis of external features showed a significant expansion of enrichment capacity. AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x