North Korea has constructed a new uranium enrichment facility at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex capable of housing as many as 28 centrifuge cascades, while also expanding another enrichment site near Pyongyang, the International Atomic Energy Agency has found, Reuters reported.

The IAEA reached its conclusions using satellite imagery, open-source information and photographs released by North Korean state media. The agency has not had inspectors inside North Korea since 2009.

A new two-story building at Yongbyon was identified as the complex’s second uranium enrichment facility after analysts compared images of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visiting the site with satellite photographs taken during construction.

The agency also found indications that an expanded section of the Kangson enrichment facility began operating in January. That annex had been constructed in 2024.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned that the continued operation and expansion of North Korea’s uranium enrichment infrastructure represented a serious concern, particularly because the facilities could contribute to increased production of weapons-grade nuclear material.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)