North Korea expands nuclear program as Trump open to talks amid domestic challenges
North Korea constructs new facility at Yongbyon complex
North Korea's nuclear program is all set to give US President Donald Trump a new headache as he tries to rein in Iran's ambition of acquiring nukes. Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of North Korea, has pushed ahead with the nuclear program and built long-range ballistic missiles which are claimed to be capable of hitting the American mainland.
North Korea appears to be advancing its nuclear weapons capabilities with the construction of a new building at the
Yongbyon nuclear complex
, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The structure shares similar 'dimensions and features' with facilities at Kangson, another major nuclear site, IAEA Director General Mariano Grossi stated this week.
Grossi said the agency has gathered 'consistent' evidence that North Korea has reprocessed spent nuclear fuel at Yongbyon since at least late January, 2025. Indicators include the nearly continuous operation of a steam plant at the site's Radiochemical Laboratory. The light water reactor (LWR) at Yongbyon also remained in stable operation except for a one-month shutdown in April 2025.
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The IAEA noted the undeclared enrichment facilities at both Kangson and Yongbyon are of 'serious concern' and reported no significant changes at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, which remains capable of supporting another test. North Korea's last confirmed nuclear test at Punggye-ri was in 2017.
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Despite being under multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions banning nuclear activity since 2006, North Korea has continued to expand its weapons program. The country is estimated to have produced enough fissile material for up to 90 nuclear weapons and has assembled approximately 50 warheads, according to a May, 2025 report by the US Congressional Research Service.
IAEA highlights ongoing violations of Security Council resolutions
The IAEA stated, 'The continuation and further development of the DPRK's nuclear programme are clear violations of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and are deeply regrettable.' The agency confirmed its enhanced readiness to verify North Korea's nuclear program if given access.
The IAEA has not had inspectors inside North Korea since 2009. In the 1990s, Pyongyang agreed to freeze its nuclear program in exchange for international aid, but the deal collapsed in 2002 after North Korea admitted resuming uranium enrichment.
Also read:
Four North Korean officials arrested over failed warship launch in front of Kim Jong Un, face imminent execution
Grossi emphasized that safety concerns persist regarding the LWR due to a lack of operational information and called for constructive engagement with North Korea with support from regional and international stakeholders.
Trump open to talks as US monitors North Korean activity
Amid reports of renewed nuclear activity, President Donald Trump remains open to restarting dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Wednesday, June 11, that Trump 'remains receptive to correspondence with Kim Jong Un and he'd like to see the progress that was made at that summit in Singapore.'
Trump has maintained that he built strong relations with Kim during his first presidency, despite the collapse of the 2019 Hanoi summit. North Korean state media has remained silent on the possibility of reengagement, and Kim has said that past negotiations only confirmed Washington's 'unchangeable' hostility toward Pyongyang.
The push for dialogue comes as South Korea's newly inaugurated liberal President Lee Jae-myung seeks to ease tensions. One of his administration's first actions was suspending the use of loudspeakers at the border that previously broadcast anti-Pyongyang messages.
Also read:
South Korea halts propaganda broadcasts along border with rival North in move to ease tensions
Domestic pressures cloud Trump's foreign policy messaging
While Trump seeks to rekindle talks with North Korea, he continues to face legal and political challenges domestically. His renewed interest in foreign policy has emerged alongside rising scrutiny over his legal battles and campaign activities during the 2024 election cycle.
The geopolitical environment on the Korean Peninsula has shifted significantly since Trump and Kim last met. Kim has strengthened ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and openly aligned with Moscow amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. North Korea has vowed to enhance its nuclear capabilities 'without limit' in response to perceived threats from the United States and its allies.
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