North Korea releases images of an enriched uranium facility for the first time

Pyongyang, which conducted its first nuclear test in 2006 and is the subject of several United Nations sanctions for its banned weapons programs, has not publicly displayed these facilities. These produce highly enriched uranium, which is necessary to make nuclear warheads, using high-speed centrifuges. Mr. Kim visited a Nuclear Weapons Institute and a military nuclear materials production plant, the official KCNA news agency said, without specifying where those facilities are or when the visit took place.

The leader of North Korea “He emphasized the need to increase the number of centrifuges to dramatically increase self-defense nuclear weapons”the group said, releasing images of Kim Jong Un inspecting rows of centrifuges. Mr. Kim “became proficient in the production of nuclear warheads” and nuclear materials, according to the group. The leader urged him “stimulating the introduction of a new type of centrifuge […] to make the bases for nuclear materials to strengthen the military. Mr. Kim also called “Set a higher long-term target for the production of essential nuclear materials”, KCNA added.

North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs are under UN sanctions, but the country avoids these restrictionsespecially with the support of its friends, Russia and China. South Korea criticized Pyongyang for “It revealed that there is a uranium enrichment facility” and discussed increasing the production of materials for nuclear weapons. “This is a serious violation of several resolutions of the United Nations Security Council”said a spokesman for the Union Ministry in Seoul.

Influence America’s election

According to experts, the broadcast of images of uranium enrichment facilities could be aimed at influencing the US presidential election in November. These pictures are “message to next administration” meaning “it will be impossible to disarm North Korea”, Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute of National Unification, told AFP. “It is also a message asking other countries to recognize North Korea as a nuclear state. “he added.

North Korea operates several uranium enrichment facilities, according to South Korean information, including one at the Yongbyon nuclear site. Decommissioned after negotiations, Pyongyang would reactivate it in 2021. The installation unveiled on Friday “most likely Kangson site”another secret nuclear plant near Pyongyang, according to Mr. Hong. However, this attention is unlikely to be quickly followed by a new nuclear test, the analyst said.

Site damaged by floods

North Korea’s main nuclear test site was damaged by flooding after rain, according to reports released Wednesday by 38 North, a North Korea monitoring program run by the Stimson Center think tank in late July. This site “It’s in bad shape”. “All the roads and railways have been destroyed by the waters and the ground is very fragile”Mr. Hong will also understand.

Relations between Seoul and Pyongyang are at an all-time low and the North recently announced the deployment of 250 ballistic missile launchers to its southern border. In the past few months, North Korea has released a large number of balloons loaded with garbagewith a new series last week. On Thursday, Seoul announced that North Korea had expelled several “short-range ballistic missiles” heading to sea, his first major military test since early July. But the KCNA agency pointed out on Friday that it was a test “a new type of 600mm multiple rocket launcher”.