North Korea releases rare glimpse of Kim Jong Un touring secret nuclear weapons facility
USA TodaySEP 13 2024
North Korea's state media disclosed for the first time ever images of its uranium enrichment facility on Friday, with leader Kim Jong Un inspecting rows of centrifuges and a control room at the premises.North Korea's state media showed for the first time ever images of a uranium enrichment facility on Friday, with leader Kim Jong Un inspecting rows of centrifuges and a control room at the base.
2The release comes as Kim said this week that the number of nuclear weapons will be exponentially increased, but it's unclear when his visit took place. The location of the now-revealed top-secret weapons-grade uranium plant remains undiclosed.
3North Korea is believed to operate multiple plants for turning the natural radioactive element into nuclear fuel, including in Kangson and Yongbyon, where continued activities have been observed.
Though Kim may seem like an irrational actor, he's simply using the only leverage he has in dealing with South Korea and the US. His nuclear ambitions are designed to seek political gains and sanctions relief after successive American administrations have derailed diplomatic routes to denuclearization.
As much as North Korea wishes to flex its military potential and engage in bombastic rhetoric, it would be best for Pyongyang not to push this too far. The North is well known to suffer extreme economic hardship, and it's near-impossible for them to keep masking vulnerabilities with dangerous propaganda and military activity.