North Korea’s Leader: “We Will Expand Our Nuclear Weapons Program”

North Korea’s official state news agency, KCNA, reported today (Thursday) that the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, called for an expansion of his nation’s nuclear arsenal. The North Korean leader was shown visiting a new uranium enrichment facility, and it was reported that he said the country’s capacity to produce weapons-grade nuclear material has doubled and more over the past five years.

During the visit, Jong Un instructed officials to further increase output “in order to meet long-term strategic goals.” It was also reported that during the visit he was presented with new production processes incorporating more advanced technology, and he reviewed current output targets as well as future plans.

As a reminder, three months ago a report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service was published. The report stated that North Korea possesses enough enriched nuclear material to produce up to 90 warheads, about 50 of which have already been assembled. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in its own report that at least two enrichment sites are operating in North Korea.