IAEA Director General Says North Korea Expanding Nuclear Weapons Capacity

SEOUL (Afghan Verified) — IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that North Korea is significantly expanding its capacity to produce nuclear weapons.

Grossi said the International Atomic Energy Agency has observed rapid growth in operations at several key North Korean nuclear sites, including the five-megawatt reactor, reprocessing facilities and light-water reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear complex.

These developments suggest North Korea's nuclear arsenal has expanded to potentially include dozens of warheads, Grossi warned, posing a serious threat to regional and global security.

Speaking in Seoul on Tuesday, he called on the international community to adopt a more coordinated response to North Korea's nuclear expansion.

Grossi's remarks highlight ongoing concerns about Pyongyang's nuclear program, which has been under international scrutiny for years. The IAEA has monitored North Korean facilities through satellite imagery and other means, noting increased activity at Yongbyon, a major site for plutonium production and other nuclear activities.

The five-megawatt reactor at Yongbyon is capable of producing weapons-grade plutonium, while reprocessing facilities extract fissile material from spent fuel. The light-water reactor, under construction, could further bolster North Korea's capabilities.

Grossi's statements come amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula, with North Korea conducting missile tests and advancing its weapons programs despite UN Security Council resolutions.