The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that North Korea has built a new uranium enrichment facility at the main Yongbyon nuclear complex, which can accommodate up to 28 cascades of centrifuges, and that it has begun operating an expanded annex at the enrichment site in Kangson.
The agency, based in Vienna, stated in its report that the findings indicate a steady expansion of North Korea's nuclear infrastructure at multiple sites.
In the report dated August 28, it mentioned that the agency relied on satellite imagery and materials from open sources, including images released by North Korean state media, to track Pyongyang's nuclear activities. The agency has not sent inspectors to North Korea since 2009.
The agency identified a new two-story building in Yongbyon as the second uranium enrichment facility at the site, by comparing images released by state media of a visit made by the country’s leader Kim Jong Un in June with satellite images taken during the construction of the building.
The report noted that the photos taken during the visit show the presence of cascades of centrifuges on both the upper and lower floors of the main building, adding that the building can accommodate up to 28 cascades of the devices shown in the images.
The report also mentioned that there are indications of operations beginning in January at a uranium enrichment facility in Kangson near the capital Pyongyang, within an annex built in 2024.