From Pyongyang, they shared the first images of their uranium enrichment machines, a key element in strengthening its nuclear arsenal.
State media North Korea They released pictures of one of their secret nuclear facilities .
It is about the first time they share photos of this place as the revelation comes amid a scenario in which the country strengthens its ties with Russia.
The archives show how Pyongyang’s supreme leader, Kim Jong Un Stroll between rows of machines that enrich uranium as part of his visit to Nuclear Weapons Instinct and a production base for materials suitable for such weapons.
In this case, the North Korean dictator He demanded that his officials “exponentially” increase the nuclear arsenal. that you have at your disposal.
According to the North’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), stated that these arm They are necessary for “self-defense and preemptive strike capability.” .
In the same way, accused that “nuclear threats by vassal forces led by US imperialists” had crossed the red line .
It is good to remember that North Korean nuclear program banned by several resolutions of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.
What is known about North Korea’s nuclear facilities?
Although the images were shared on Friday, September 13, 2024, North Korean reports did not specify when Kim Jong Un’s visit took place or, as expected, the location. .
From the Ministry of Unification South Korea has condemned the regime’s possession of uranium enrichment facilities and said it would never accept its possession of nuclear weapons. .
It is assumed that North Korea has several sites for enriching uranium .
Analysts quoted by Reuters they assured that Commercial satellite images show construction of Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center in recent years.
This suggests a possible extension of said space which is the key to the development of its weapons.
What is most worrying about this radioactive element is that can be used to make nuclear fuel .
Before the images were released, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said Monday that an activity compatible with the operation of a reactor and a centrifuge enrichment facility at Yongbyon has been identified .
Lee Sang-kyu, a nuclear engineering specialist at South Korea’s Korea Institute for Defense Analysis, told the aforementioned international agency that The juicers seen in the photos appear to be smaller and shorter than the types supposed to be used. .
The above could mean that have developed their own to improve separation capabilities said the expert.
Along with this, he said that the records confirm that They use a cascade system in which a large number of centrifuges are interconnected. .
This could allow that the uranium obtained is highly enriched .
A representative of the U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Ankit Panda, told Reuters that “Kim (Jong Un) appears to be suggesting that North Korea’s tactical nuclear weapon designs may rely primarily on uranium for their cores.” .
This is a relevant point, he added, since They have a greater capacity to increase their reserves of highly enriched uranium compared to other elements such as plutonium.
In the words of Jenny Town, a representative of the US-based Stimson Center, the capture of centrifuges “shows how advanced its enrichment capability has become, lending further credibility to both its ability and commitment to increasing its arsenals nuclear weapons.”
For his part, Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, suggested that the purpose of sharing such content includes influence the US presidential election and send a message to the next administration from the White House.
The vote in this North American country will take place in November 2024 and in these countries Current Vice President Kamala Harris (Democratic Party) and former President Donald Trump (Republican Party) will face off .
Pyongyang’s message North Korea’s denuclearization may no longer be possible said the specialist.
The same Friday, September 13 Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu met with Kim Jong Un in the Asian country to discuss bilateral and international issues.
According to various researchers, North Korea continues to supply weapons to the Kremlin more than two years after the start of its military invasion of Ukrainian territory on February 24, 2022.
Among these, there would be new ballistic missiles manufactured in 2024 .
North Korea’s KCNA news agency reported Thursday that Kim Jong Un oversaw tests of new multiple launch rocket system .
Although estimates of the number of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons vary widely, a report by the Federation of American Scientists published in July 2024 concluded that They have around fifty nuclear warheads. .
However, they said they had fissile material to build up to 90 approximately.
Park Won-gon, a specialist in North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said The Wall Street Journal that the publication of the photos means that “Kim Jong Un tells US: ‘Accept us as a de facto nuclear state'” .
Source: Latercera
I am David Jack and I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years. As an experienced journalist, I specialize in covering sports news with a focus on golf. My articles have been published by some of the most respected publications in the world including The New York Times and Sports Illustrated.