North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un has urged workers at a newly established nuclear production facility to speed up the production of atomic weapons to enhance the country’s growing arsenal.
Kim was seen inspecting the latest nuclear material production plant on Wednesday, providing guidance to officials and experts. State media reported his satisfaction with the facility and his request for increased production.
During his visit, Kim, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Munitions Industry and the Nuclear Weapons Research Institute, supervised production lines, discussed projects with senior officials, and interacted with workers showcasing the nation’s advancements in nuclear technology.
According to reports from the Northern newspaper Rodong Sinmun, Kim mentioned that the production capacity of weapons-grade nuclear material has doubled in the past five years, emphasizing the need for further output increase.
Kim announced plans to significantly strengthen the national nuclear force, attributing today’s nuclear capabilities to the hard work of North Korean scientists over the past five years. He emphasized that expanding the arsenal would serve as a deterrent in war, ensuring the country’s security, interests, and development rights.
The Supreme Leader highlighted the necessity of this expansion to counter long-term confrontations with adversaries, particularly a veiled warning to the West.
Kim’s inspection of the operational atomic facility follows North Korea’s recent launch of a projectile into the ocean in its latest weapons test. South Korean military officials confirmed the launch on the peninsula’s west coast, marking the North’s latest weapons trial this year.
Previous launches by North Korea in May and April involved projectiles flying over 49 miles and demonstrating cluster bomb warheads, respectively, as reported by state media.
