IAEA Warns of North Korea Nuclear Expansion at Yongbyon

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, warned on April 15, 2026, during a visit to Seoul that North Korea has shown a rapid increase in operations at its key nuclear facilities, signaling a significant expansion in its capacity to produce atomic weapons.

Speaking to reporters, Grossi detailed IAEA assessments confirming heightened activity at the Yongbyon nuclear complex, North Korea's primary site for weapons development. This includes the five-megawatt reactor, a reprocessing unit for plutonium, and a light water reactor, along with activation of other facilities. "In our periodic assessments, we have been able to confirm that there's a rapid increase in the operations of the Yongbyon reactor," Grossi said. He added that these developments point to "a very serious increase in the capabilities of the DPRK in the area of nuclear weapons production," using North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

South Korea's intelligence agency has indicated that North Korea operates multiple uranium enrichment facilities, essential for manufacturing nuclear warheads. Yongbyon, one of these sites, was reportedly decommissioned...