New satellite imagery reveals the completion of a building in Yongbyon, North Pyongan Province, North Korea, suspected to be a uranium enrichment facility.
On Tuesday, Beyond Parallel, a North Korea-focused project of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), reported that satellite photo analysis has uncovered the construction of a new facility at the Yongbyon complex. This site is considered North Korea’s primary nuclear installation, capable of producing weapons-grade materials for nuclear warheads. The analysis compared satellite images from September 2024, April 30, June 5, and April 2 of this year.
The new structure is situated approximately 480 meters (about 0.3 miles) northeast of the existing Radiochemical Laboratory (RCL) and about 1,800 meters (about 1.1 miles) north of the Yongbyon centrifuge facility. Construction began in mid-December 2024, with external work completed by early June of last year.
Satellite imagery from June last year shows the new building’s exterior nearly finished. Materials and equipment visible on the ground nearby indicate ongoing interior work. Two small fuel storage tanks have been installed south of the new building, and construction has commenced on several support structures.
Images from April 2 confirm the facility’s substantial completion, including a presumed backup generator building, administrative support building, and vehicle storage area. Intermittent sightings of vehicles and personnel over the past four months suggest ongoing efforts to complete the building’s interior.
However, analysts question the decision to construct these new buildings near the Radiochemical Laboratory if they are indeed for uranium enrichment. The majority of North Korea’s current uranium enrichment facilities are clustered around the existing centrifuge complex about 2 kilometers south, which would seem a more logical location for expansion.
In June of last year, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that North Korea was constructing a uranium enrichment facility in Yongbyon to produce weapons-grade materials for nuclear weapons.
During an IAEA board meeting last month, Director General Rafael Grossi stated that they’re closely monitoring the new Yongbyon facility, which bears similarities to known highly enriched uranium facilities in terms of infrastructure and scale, including power supply and cooling capabilities. While the building’s exterior appears complete, internal outfitting seems to be ongoing.