North Korea boosting ability to manufacture nuclear arms, IAEA chief warns

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi warns of a 'rapid increase' in operations at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear reactor, signaling an accelerated weapons production capability. | Contesto: cronaca

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• North Korea boosting ability to manufacture nuclear arms, IAEA chief warns

Contesto

The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency issued a stark warning on Monday, stating that North Korea is rapidly expanding operations at its main Yongbyon nuclear reactor, a clear indication the isolated regime is boosting its capacity to manufacture nuclear weapons. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, addressing the agency's Board of Governors in Vienna, reported that signs of activity at the 5-megawatt reactor at the Yongbyon complex have escalated significantly since mid-October. This includes the discharge of cooling water, a process consistent with the operation of the reactor to produce plutonium, a key fissile material for warheads. The Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center, located north of Pyongyang, is the heart of North Korea's nuclear program. It houses not only the plutonium-production reactor but also a uranium enrichment facility and a radiochemical laboratory for reprocessing spent fuel rods to extract weapons-grade plutonium. For years, satellite imagery analyzed by the IAEA and independent experts has been the primary means of monitoring the site, as international inspectors have been barred from the country since 2009. The recent surge in observable activity marks a concerning acceleration in a program that has continued unabated despite stringent international sanctions and diplomatic pressure. This development comes amidst a period of heightened military posturing from Pyongyang. Over the past year, North Korea has conducted an unprecedented number of ballistic missile tests, including launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) theoretically capable of reaching the United States mainland. In September, the country's rubber-stamp parliament passed a new law enshrining its status as a nuclear weapons state and authorizing the preemptive use of nuclear forces. The increased plutonium production at Yongbyon directly feeds this more aggressive nuclear doctrine, providing the essential material for expanding an arsenal whose size is a closely guarded state secret. The international response has been one of deep concern but limited immediate leverage. The United Nations...

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Categoria: cronaca