Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, has visited a nuclear-material-producing service and called for strengthening the nation’s nuclear arsenal, according to state media on Wednesday.
The action comes as North Korea prepares to put more pressure on the country following President Donald Trump’s return to power.
Kim’s visit highlights North Korea’s continuing efforts to increase its nuclear arsenal, despite Trump’s declaration that he would like to resume politics.
Analysts believe Pyongyang’s weaponry developments are a part of a broader plan to utilize negotiations with Washington for possible support and concessions.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA ), Kim toured a nuclear-material production base and the nuclear weapons institute, though the exact locations were not disclosed.
However, images from North Korean state media suggest that he most likely went to the same uranium-enrichment facility that he inspected last September, the first publicly revealed facility since North Korea showcased one to visiting American academics in 2010 ( see image ).
The North Korean president praised the professionals and workers for “producing weapons-grade radioactive substances and strengthening the country’s nuclear weapon” during his visit.
North Korea’s arms action has sped-up lately.
On Sunday, Pyongyang announced it had tested a cruise missile system—its next known weapons test this year—while vowing” the toughest” reaction to what it called increasing US-South Asian martial training. Although Washington and Seoul insist they are purely defensive, North Korea sees these combined exercises as conquest rehearsals.
With Trump’s second term in full swing, there is growing skepticism about a potential US-North Korean political resumption. Trump and Kim three days during his first name, but negotiations broke down in 2019 due to disagreements over US-led punishment.
In a Fox News interview aired Thursday, Trump described Kim as” a bright person” and” not a spiritual zealot”. When asked if he planned to reach out to Kim again, Trump responded,” I did, yeah”.
Given North Korea’s growing nuclear arsenal and its growing defense ties with Russia, some experts think Kim then sees himself in a stronger negotiation position than he did during his earlier discussions with Trump.
