North Korea’s New Uranium Plant Could Grow Its Arsenal

The country is building a huge new enrichment center in Yongbyon that could lift its capacity to 75 percent.

• Kim Jong Un toured the site last week and called the plan “exponential.”
• He claimed the nation’s nuclear power is now “inconceivable.”

Plant Specifications

• The plant will hold over 9,000 centrifuges.
• It could produce about 353 pounds of highly enriched uranium each year.

Current Nuclear Stockpile

• Roughly 2.3 tons of fissile material are already in North Korea’s possession.
• The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates the country owns 60 warheads and could make at least 90 more, up from about 50 in 2025.

Expert Analysis

• A Vertic study notes the new facility is a major step up with no sign of slowing down.

  “It looks like they’re just adding numbers,” one analyst said.

• An expert from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace told NPR that North Korea’s expansion shows no near‑term pause.

Diplomatic Context

The news arrives while former President Donald Trump has hinted at restarting talks with Kim Jong Un, although past meetings failed to curb nuclear activities.