SEOUL. North Korea has revealed, for the first time, images of its uranium enrichment facility, showcasing centrifuges used in producing fuel for nuclear bombs. On Friday, state media broadcasted leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to the secretive Nuclear Weapons Institute, where he emphasized the need for more weapons-grade material to bolster the country’s nuclear arsenal.

The report, which featured rare photographs of the uranium-enriching centrifuges, provided a glimpse into North Korea’s nuclear program, which remains under multiple United Nations Security Council bans. The images show Kim walking through rows of metal centrifuges, vital machines used to enrich uranium—a key component in nuclear weapons. While the report did not disclose the location or the exact date of Kim’s visit, the facility’s existence underscores the country’s growing nuclear capabilities.

During the visit, Kim called for increased production of materials for tactical nuclear weapons, citing the need to defend against perceived threats from the United States and its allies. He stressed that North Korea’s nuclear capabilities are essential for “self-defense and the capability for a preemptive attack.”

Kim also condemned the ongoing “anti-DPRK nuclear threats” from “U.S. imperialists-led vassal forces,” which he claims have “crossed the red line.”

In response, South Korea’s unification ministry strongly criticized the unveiling of North Korea’s uranium enrichment facility. “We will never accept Pyongyang’s possession of nuclear weapons,” the ministry stated.

North Korea’s Nuclear Advancements

North Korea is believed to operate several uranium enrichment sites, with commercial satellite imagery hinting at potential expansions at the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center. This site, home to an enrichment plant, has been observed undergoing construction in recent years, according to analysts.

Uranium, a naturally occurring radioactive element, must undergo specific processes to increase the concentration of its isotope uranium-235 to make nuclear fuel. On Monday, Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, remarked that the U.N. nuclear watchdog had detected activities consistent with reactor operations and centrifuge enrichment at Yongbyon.

Boosting Centrifuge Capacity

Kim highlighted the importance of increasing the number of centrifuges to “exponentially increase” North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. He also stressed expanding the use of a new centrifuge type to enhance the production of weapons-grade nuclear material. Photos released by state media showed smaller, more compact centrifuges compared to those previously thought to be in use, suggesting the development of more advanced machines to refine uranium.

Lee Sang-kyu, a nuclear engineering expert at South Korea’s Korea Institute for Defense Analysis, noted that the images confirmed the use of a cascade system, where numerous centrifuges are linked to achieve highly enriched uranium.

Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, emphasized that the advancements in North Korea’s fuel cycle are significant. “Kim also appears to suggest that North Korean tactical nuclear weapons designs may primarily rely on uranium for their cores,” Panda explained, pointing out that scaling up uranium stockpiles is more feasible for North Korea compared to the more complex process required for plutonium.

Impact on U.S. Relations

Friday’s broadcast marked the first time North Korea has shown photos of its uranium enrichment equipment. In 2010, some foreign scientists were invited to observe a centrifuge facility at Yongbyon, but Jenny Town of the U.S.-based Stimson Center said the new images reflect North Korea’s enhanced enrichment capabilities.

“It gives greater credibility to both their ability and commitment to increasing their nuclear weapons arsenals,” Town stated. She also speculated that the photos might be intended to send a message to the U.S., implying that denuclearization is no longer an option and urging recognition of North Korea as a nuclear state.

Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, suggested the timing of the release could also be aimed at influencing U.S. elections, positioning North Korea as a key foreign policy issue for the next administration.

Growing Ties with Russia

On Friday, top Russian security official Sergei Shoigu met with Kim in North Korea to discuss bilateral and international matters, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency. This high-level meeting is the latest in a series of military exchanges between the two countries. Analysts believe Pyongyang has been supplying weapons to Russia, including new ballistic missiles.

In a separate report, North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) stated that Kim oversaw the launch of a new 600mm multiple-launch rocket system on Thursday. A South Korean official suggested that the launch might have been a test for weapons intended for export to Russia.

North Korea’s Expanding Nuclear Arsenal

North Korea has conducted six underground nuclear tests between 2006 and 2017 and has previously released photos of what it claims to be nuclear warheads. Estimates of the country’s nuclear weapons stockpile vary, with a July report from the Federation of American Scientists suggesting that Pyongyang may have produced enough fissile material for up to 90 nuclear warheads, though it likely has around 50 operational weapons.