North Korea has built new uranium facility to expand nuclear arsenal, UN agency says

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 11, 2026

The International Atomic Energy Agency has identified North Korea’s construction of a new uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon, capable of significantly increasing its production of weapons-grade uranium. This expansion, alongside operations at Kangson, heightens concerns over Pyongyang’s growing nuclear arsenal and represents violations of UN Security Council resolutions.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has raised "serious concern" over North Korea’s construction of a new uranium enrichment facility aimed at expanding its nuclear weapons program. According to the agency’s recent report, the new building is located at North Korea’s principal Yongbyon nuclear complex and is capable of housing up to 28 centrifuge cascades, equipment used to produce weapons-grade uranium.

The report is based on analysis of satellite imagery and open-source material, including photographs released by North Korea’s state media. It further identifies the Yongbyon site as North Korea’s second uranium enrichment facility, following comparisons between images captured during the building’s construction and photos from a June visit by Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. During this visit, Kim asserted that his country’s capacity to produce weapons-grade nuclear material has more than doubled over the last five years, and promised “vast future plans to exponentially strengthen the country’s nuclear forces.”

In addition to activities at Yongbyon, North Korea has expanded operations at an enrichment site in Kangson, near the capital Pyongyang. The IAEA director general, Rafael Grossi, emphasized in a statement that the continued operation and growth of enrichment capabilities at both locations represent clear violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions and constitute a deeply regrettable development.

According to a 2025 assessment from the U.S.-based James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, the Yongbyon facility’s 28 centrifuge cascades, consisting of approximately 4,592 centrifuges, could potentially produce around 85 kilograms of highly enriched uranium annually. This amount is considered sufficient for manufacturing three to four additional nuclear warheads each year.

The evolving nuclear capabilities have drawn heightened concern from regional actors. South Korea’s Defence Minister, Ahn Gyu-back, testified in August that North Korea is believed to possess between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads—a figure considerably higher than the 57 warheads referenced by former U.S. President Donald Trump that same month. Ahn clarified that these figures are drawn from private research estimates and that South Korean military officials have not independently verified the exact number.

North Korea has accelerated its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons development in recent years as part of ongoing efforts to solidify its status as a recognized nuclear power, despite international condemnation and sanctions aimed at curbing its program. The IAEA’s findings and the expanding uranium enrichment infrastructure underscore persistent challenges in denuclearization efforts on the Korean Peninsula.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.