UN watchdog warns North Korea is boosting nuclear weapons capacity

North Korea has made “very serious” advances in its abilities to turn out nuclear weapons, with the probable addition of a new uranium enrichment facility, as it steps up activity at a key complex, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has said.

Enriching uranium can provide an alternative, and experts say, a more effective, path to acquiring weapons-grade material in addition to ‌reprocessing spent plutonium extracted from a nuclear reactor.

Speaking in Seoul on Wednesday, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed a rapid rise in activity at the 5-megawatt reactor, the reprocessing unit, a light water reactor and other facilities at the North’s Yongbyon nuclear complex.

North Korea’s nuclear programme was estimated at a few dozen warheads, he told a news conference, citing signs of activity such as the operation of a light water reactor and activation of other facilities besides Yongbyon.

“All of them point to a very serious ⁠increase in the capabilities of the DPRK in the area of nuclear weapons production,” Grossi said, using the initials of the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s ‌Republic of Korea.

The watchdog had observed construction of a new facility similar to Yongbyon’s uranium enrichment halls, he said, adding that analysis of external features showed a significant expansion of enrichment capacity.