North Korea Expands Uranium Enrichment Capacity, IAEA Warns

North Korea has constructed a second uranium enrichment facility at its Yongbyon nuclear complex, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported. The new two-storey building is capable of accommodating up to 28 centrifuge cascades, which are machines used to concentrate uranium into weapons-grade material. This development, alongside the reported operation of an expanded annex at the Kangson enrichment site since January 2026, indicates a continued expansion of North Korea's nuclear infrastructure. The IAEA's assessment, detailed in a report disclosed on August 28, relies on satellite imagery, open-source materials, and photographs from North Korean state media. Inspectors have been absent from the country since 2009, making remote monitoring the primary method for assessing nuclear activities. State media images from a June visit by Kim Jong Un inadvertently provided views of the new Yongbyon facility, allowing for comparison with satellite images taken during its construction. Independent groups have also reviewed the imagery and reached consistent conclusions regarding the facility's scale and purpose.