A Growing Nuclear Threat: Expanded Capacity for Weapons-Grade Uranium
The confirmation of Kangson as a uranium enrichment site could dramatically alter estimates of North Korea’s ability to produce fissile material for nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had previously focused on the Yongbyon nuclear complex, which was expanded in 2021. However, Kangson’s addition into the mix may suggest a higher output of weapons-usable material than previously thought.
Ankit Panda, a nuclear policy expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, warned that these developments might force a significant revision of existing estimates of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities. “Experts may have to significantly revise many of the estimates on how much fissile material they’ve amassed,” Panda stated.
According to estimates by John Ford, another analyst from the Open Source Team, the newly revealed centrifuge hall at Kangson could house upwards of 2,500 centrifuges. This aligns with earlier assessments made by NK Pro based on satellite imagery and the configuration of the facility. The sheer scale of this enrichment capability signals that North Korea may be able to produce far more nuclear warheads than previously feared.
North Korea’s Expanding Nuclear Arsenal
Kim Jong Un’s visit to the enrichment facility follows his repeated calls for expanding North Korea’s nuclear arsenal to counter perceived threats from the U.S. and South Korea. In a major policy speech earlier this week, Kim reiterated the need for “exponential” growth in nuclear weapons production. During his visit to Kangson, he specifically mentioned plans for manufacturing tactical nuclear weapons, designed to target South Korean missile defense systems.