Pyongyang [North Korea], September 13: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the control room of a uranium enrichment facility to learn about the operation of production lines and oversee a test of a new 600-mm multiple rocket launcher system.
The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on September 13 that Kim also visited the Nuclear Weapons Institute and the weapons-grade nuclear material production facility, where he called for increasing the number of uranium enrichment centrifuges to boost nuclear weapons for self-defense. KCNA did not disclose the location of the facility or the date of the visit.
According to KCNA, Mr. Kim walked around the control room of the uranium enrichment facility to learn about the general operation of the production lines, and expressed satisfaction after being informed that "the facility is producing nuclear materials efficiently."
"When he personally toured the factory, he said he felt a sense of power upon seeing the production site," KCNA said. According to Yonhap, this is the first time North Korea has publicly disclosed details about its uranium enrichment facility.
South Korean and US intelligence agencies believe North Korea operates uranium enrichment facilities at the Kangson nuclear complex near Pyongyang and at the Yongbyon nuclear site. North Korea previously invited renowned US nuclear scientist Siegfried Hecker to tour the Yongbyon uranium enrichment facility in 2010.
According to a separate KCNA report, Mr. Kim had earlier inspected a training base of the North Korean army's special forces to direct the drill.
The information was released just one day after North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the east coast of the Korean Peninsula on September 12. According to Yonhap, the South Korean military condemned the latest launch as a "provocation" that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and vowed to respond firmly.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper