Kim Jong Un has expressed his commitment to strengthening North Korea's nuclear capabilities during an inspection of a new nuclear material production facility. Experts noted that this visit sends a message to both the United States and China.
The Korean Central News Agency reported on June 4 that Kim visited the newly operational facility on June 3, accompanied by officials from the Central Committee's Department of Munitions Industry and the Nuclear Weapons Research Institute. The report did not specify the facility's location or production capacity.
Kim stated, "Under the direct guidance of the 8th Central Committee of the Party, our ability to produce weapons-grade nuclear material has surpassed double the previous level over the past five years."
He added, "The 9th Party Congress has decided on a new five-year plan to continuously enhance the country's nuclear deterrent capabilities, adopting strategic decisions to expand nuclear material production and increase the number of nuclear weapons accordingly."
The agency also reported that an important meeting regarding nuclear capability enhancement took place. Kim announced significant conclusions with practical guidelines, stating, "We have updated key figures in our nuclear activities today," and emphasized that tactical and strategic demands were comprehensively considered in building nuclear deterrence.
He remarked, "We have confirmed the sequence and guarantees for executing our vast plans to exponentially strengthen the national nuclear force, marking a historic milestone for the advancement of our nuclear capabilities."
Professor Lim Eul-chul from Kyungnam University noted that if Chinese President Xi Jinping visits North Korea, he may advise restraint on further provocations or encourage dialogue, considering the situation on the Korean Peninsula and U.S.-China relations. He suggested that Kim's actions, including the operation of the nuclear facility and the agenda of the 9th Party Congress, signal that the nuclear issue is beyond China's control or compromise and has reached an irreversible stage.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, commented on the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the U.S., highlighting that the core issue is Iran's high-enriched uranium processing. He analyzed that North Korea's expansion of facilities and production capabilities serves to clarify that denuclearization is not a subject for negotiations between North Korea and the U.S.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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