New North Korean Escalation: Kim’s Message from Inside a Nuclear Facility

14th September 2024

3 minutes read

New North Korean Escalation: Kim's Message from Inside a Nuclear Facility

A new challenge from North Korea to the world, and especially to its southern neighbor, this time with a nuclear aspect.

On Friday, Pyongyang released rare images for the first time of a uranium enrichment facility, where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was seen touring, calling for the installation of more centrifuges to enhance his nuclear arsenal.

North Korea’s Central News Agency released photos of Kim inspecting rows of centrifuges, emphasizing the need to increase their number “to accelerate the expansion of nuclear weapons for self-defense.”

According to the same source, Kim visited the control room of a uranium enrichment facility to learn about the operation of its production lines, and he also oversaw the test launch of a new type of 600mm multiple rocket launcher.

Kim also visited the Institute of Nuclear Weapons and a production base for weapons-grade enriched nuclear materials, where he outlined a long-term plan to increase the production of such materials.

For its part, South Korea condemned North Korea’s unveiling of the uranium enrichment facility, stating, “We will never accept North Korea possessing nuclear weapons.”

In 2021, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists estimated that North Korea might possess enough fissile material to produce 40 to 50 nuclear weapons.

Nuclear tests were conducted within the country in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2017.

Kim has accused Washington of being behind “various military threats,” and he previously ordered the “mobilization of all material means and forces, including nuclear power, in case of emergency” against South Korea.

Earlier, the North Korean leader stressed that he no longer sought reconciliation or reunification with the South, speaking of an “uncontrollable ongoing crisis” he claimed was provoked by Seoul and Washington.

Seoul and Washington have strengthened their defense cooperation in the face of a record series of weapons tests conducted by Pyongyang last year.

Ballistic Missile Launches

Kim’s visit to the nuclear facility follows North Korea’s launch of short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday, marking the first such launch since July 1st.

The launches followed North Korea’s threats last week to Washington and Seoul, warning they would pay a “heavy price” in response to military drills it deemed “provocative.”

Last week, South Korea and the United States conducted their joint summer exercises, “Freedom Shield.”

North Korea has long condemned these joint drills between Seoul and Washington, describing them as rehearsals for an invasion, using them as a pretext for provocations. Meanwhile, the allies have stated that their military exercises are defensive in nature.

Trash Balloons

The missile launch also comes after North Korea resumed its trash balloon campaign last week, following a pause of nearly a month.

For five consecutive days, North Korea sent balloons containing scraps of paper and plastic bottles to the South.

Since late May, North Korea has sent thousands of trash balloons to the South in response to anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border by North Korean defectors and activists in South Korea.