Kim Jong Un Declares N. Korea's Nuclear Output Has More Than Doubled

(MENAFN) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced Wednesday that the country has more than doubled its weapons-grade nuclear material production capacity over the past five years, signaling a sharp acceleration in Pyongyang's atomic weapons ambitions.

Kim made the declaration during an inspection of a newly inaugurated nuclear materials facility, with state media outlet reporting the details Thursday.

Addressing what he characterized as mounting threats from the country's adversaries, Kim framed the expansion as both urgent and necessary. The prolonged standoff with the nation's "most ferocious enemies," compounded by escalating existing dangers, emerging risks, and unpredictable long-term crises, reinforces the "urgency and responsibility" of pursuing a faster and more sustained nuclear buildup, he said, according to the outlet.

The North Korean leader further argued that advances in nuclear technology have established a "mature environment" for the "new next stage of bolstering up the nuclear forces," adding that they open the door to "the possibility of carrying out larger plans."

In what he described as a transformation beyond "rhetorical description," Kim outlined an ambitious roadmap for exponential growth in the country's nuclear arsenal.

"We have confirmed the order of priority for implementing the ambitious future plan designed to beef up our state's nuclear forces at an exponential rate, as well as a requisite guarantee for the purpose," Kim said, calling it an "amazing, successful" shift in the country's capabilities.

The announcement comes amid stalled denuclearization talks and growing international concern over Pyongyang's expanding weapons program.

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