On Thursday, intelligence sources revealed that the U.S. government believes the new nuclear facility recently inspected by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is likely a newly constructed uranium enrichment plant at the Yongbyon complex, North Korea’s largest nuclear site.
North Korea’s state-run newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Thursday that Kim conducted an on-site inspection of a newly operational nuclear material production facility on Wednesday. The report stated that Kim examined new production processes incorporating advanced technology and reviewed operational metrics and production plans.
Kim Jong Un was quoted as saying that today, it has updated critical figures in the nuclear program and addressed several key issues. Both tactical and strategic requirements were thoroughly considered in bolstering the nuclear deterrent, leading to some highly responsible and momentous decisions.
Defense analysts believe the facility unveiled is the uranium enrichment plant that North Korea constructed in the Yongbyon area last year.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a prominent U.S. think tank, reported through its North Korea-focused platform Beyond Parallel that satellite imagery from September 2024, and April and June of last year, indicates the construction of a new facility at the Yongbyon nuclear complex. This facility is believed to produce weapons-grade material for nuclear weapons manufacturing.
According to the CSIS analysis, 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 1.12 miles) north of the centrifuge facility. Construction reportedly began in mid-December 2024, with external work completed by early June of last year.
Satellite imagery from June last year confirmed the installation of two small fuel storage tanks south of the new building, along with the commencement of construction on several new support structures.
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), corroborated these findings during an IAEA board meeting last June. He stated that a facility similar to the uranium enrichment plant in Kangson was under construction at Yongbyon. This information was subsequently included in an IAEA report released in September.
During a regular press briefing at the Ministry of Defense on Friday, Colonel Jang Do-young, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that the facility disclosed by North Korea is indeed a uranium enrichment facility. However, specific details remain classified. He added that U.S. and South Korean intelligence agencies continue to closely monitor and track developments related to North Korea’s nuclear facilities through robust cooperation.