In a significant move, North Korea has unveiled images of the centrifuges used to produce fuel for its nuclear weapons, marking the first time the country has publicly displayed this critical aspect of its program. The images were shared following a visit by leader Kim Jong Un to a uranium enrichment facility, where he called for an increase in the production of weapon-grade materials to further bolster North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.
State media reports detailed Kim’s visit to the Nuclear Weapons Institute and a production base for weapon-grade nuclear materials, providing rare insights into the country’s nuclear program. The Nuclear Weapons Institute, however, remains banned under multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The photographs released by the state media show Kim walking among rows of metal centrifuges, the machines responsible for enriching uranium. While the exact timing and location of the visit remain unspecified, Kim’s message during the visit was clear: North Korea needs to produce more materials for tactical nuclear weapons. He argued that a robust nuclear arsenal is essential for confronting perceived threats from the United States and its allies, stating that the weapons are needed for “self-defense and the capability for a preemptive attack.”
Kim further asserted that “anti-DPRK nuclear threats” from the “US imperialists-led vassal forces” have crossed a red-line. It is believed that North Korea operates multiple sites for enriching uranium, with analysts pointing to recent construction at the main Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center, including its uranium enrichment plant, as evidence of possible expansion.
Kim’s emphasis on increasing the number of centrifuges to “exponentially increase” North Korea’s nuclear arsenal is notable. He also highlighted the expansion of a new type of centrifuge, further strengthening the production of weapon-grade nuclear materials. Experts believe this new centrifuge indicates advancements in North Korea’s nuclear capabilities. Lee Sang-kyu, a nuclear engineering expert at South Korea’s Korea Institute for Defense Analysis, suggests that the centrifuges seen in the photos are smaller and shorter than those previously believed to be used by North Korea, hinting at the development of a new type of centrifuge designed to enhance separation capabilities.
Lee further notes that the photos confirm North Korea’s use of a cascade system, where large numbers of centrifuges are interconnected to achieve highly enriched uranium. This advancement in North Korea’s fuel cycle capabilities, according to Ankit Panda of the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, signifies a key development. Panda also highlights Kim’s suggestion that North Korean tactical nuclear weapons may primarily rely on uranium for their cores. This is significant because North Korea is more capable of scaling up its highly enriched uranium stockpiles compared to the more complex process for plutonium.
Estimates of the number of North Korean nuclear weapons vary widely. The Federation of American Scientists concluded in a July report that North Korea may have produced enough fissile material for up to 90 nuclear warheads, though they estimate North Korea has likely assembled closer to 50. This latest development further underscores North Korea’s commitment to its nuclear program and raises concerns about regional stability and global security.
