North Korea shows a “significant increase” in its capacity to produce nuclear weapons, says the IAEA

North Korea’s ability to make nuclear weapons had a “very significant increase”stated the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un maintains that his country will never give up nuclear weapons.

North Korea carried out its first nuclear test in 2006 and is subject to numerous UN sanctions for its weapons program.

“In our periodic evaluations, we have been able to confirm that there is a rapid increase in the operations of the Yongbyon nuclear reactor“Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a conference.

“All of this points to a very significant increase in North Korea’s capacity in the field of nuclear weapons production, which is estimated at a few dozen warheads,” said the IAEA director.

Data from the South Korean spy agency affirm that several uranium enrichment plants operate in the neighboring countrya key step for the manufacture of nuclear warheads.

Among them is the Yongbyon nuclear site, which Pyongyang reactivated in 2021.

Asked whether Russia supports North Korean nuclear development, Rafael Grossi responded that the IAEA has not seen “anything in particular about it.”