For the first time, North Korea has released images of its uranium enrichment facility that produces fuel for nuclear bombs. Despite North Korea’s nuclear program being banned under multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, the country is still believed to have several sites for enriching uranium.
In the photos, the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, was shown touring the facility. He reportedly called for more weapons-grade material to boost North Korea’s arsenal for “self-defense and the capability for a preemptive attack” against the U.S. and its allies.
“North Korea wants to send a message that it can expand its nuclear arsenal dramatically, much faster than people thought,” Lami Kim, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, told NBC News. “Whether they can make nuclear warheads is already a big deal, but how many they can now make is also very significant.”
