North Korea says it has doubled its weapons-grade nuclear production

At the time, Kim defended an “exponential” expansion of the country’s atomic arsenal and stated that Pyongyang’s priority is to reinforce its nuclear forces at an accelerated pace. The agency did not disclose the location of the new facility visited by the North Korean leader.

According to KCNAKim stated that “existing threats, which are worsening every moment, potential threats and unpredictable long-term crises” show the urgency of strengthening the country’s nuclear deterrent capacity.

“Consequently, it is our duty to continue expanding and strengthening state nuclear forces, the central axis of the strategy to deter and fight a war, and fully exercise the position of a state with nuclear weapons,” declared Kim, according to the state agency.

According to the South Korean agency Yonhap, North Korea has uranium enrichment facilities in three known locations: Yongbyon, Kangson and Kusong.

The declaration comes amid Pyongyang’s efforts to consolidate its status as a nuclear power. In February, during a congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Kim had already said that the country’s “firm and unshakable” will was to “further strengthen and expand the State’s nuclear forces”.

The North Korean nuclear program has been the target of international sanctions for years and remains one of the main points of tension on the Korean Peninsula.