North Korea Unveils its Uranium Facility

If a nuclear missile were to hit California, the center of global technology in 2025, how much do you think your life would change?

You might respond by saying that it would bring significant changes to your life, or you might dismiss it as something unlikely to happen. But what if this scenario is not as far off in the future as you think? Nuclear weapons are powerful enough to completely destroy a city. Given the destructive power of nuclear weapons, the international community has implemented the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) “to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote cooperation for the peaceful use of nuclear energy”. According to this treaty, countries are restricted from possessing nuclear weapons, with the exception of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council— the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, and France.

However, there is a country that does not adhere to this treaty, ultimately withdrawing from the NPT: North Korea. Since the 1950s, the militaristic regime has been developing and possessing nuclear weapons that are not permitted, posing a threat to the international community. In September 13, 2024, new photos of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un touring a uranium enrichment facility (location and date were not released) used for producing weapons-grade nuclear material have raised concerns about North Korea's nuclear capabilities. Although the specific date of his visit has not been disclosed, reports indicate that the purpose of the visit was to establish a long-term plan to increase the production of weapons-grade nuclear materials. According to a new analysis by a Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), UK-based think tank, North Korea has enough weapons-grade nuclear material to develop enough nuclear weapons to more than double its existing nuclear stockpile. North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons poses a threat to not only security in Northeast Asian countries but also to global peace, as North Korea can launch missiles across the Pacific relatively unchecked. Therefore, the North Korean nuclear issue is an urgent problem that needs to be addressed. 

The United States has not had diplomatic relations with North Korea since the declaration of DPRK in 1948. Current U.S. policy toward North Korea aims to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula, which includes pursuing complete denuclearization. Over the past few decades, the U.S., many of its allies and the United Nations Security Council have imposed a variety of sanctions to restrict funding for North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. North Korea is prohibited by UN Security Council resolutions from engaging in any activities involving ballistic missile technology, including efforts to launch a satellite into space using a rocket. However, North Korea continues to reject these sanctions and persists in its nuclear development.

So, what is the reason Kim Jong Un is publicly showcasing photos of nuclear facilities and developing nuclear weapons? First, many analysts suggest that domestically, the regime’s economic difficulties, stemming from corruption under Kim Jong Un’s regime, are being masked by military achievements such as nuclear weapons, in an effort to suppress public discontent. Internationally, a South Korean agency, National intelligence service has speculated that North Korea’s unveiling of its uranium facilities likely represents a sign of defiance toward Washington in the lead-up to the U.S. presidential election. North Korea may also be attempting to negotiate with the next U.S. administration under better conditions; Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, stated that these photos of Kim Jong Un touring nuclear facilities and showcasing nuclear technology could serve as a “message to the next administration that denuclearizing North Korea will be impossible,” adding that the unveiling could also be “a message demanding that other countries recognize North Korea as a nuclear state.” North Korea may be attempting to negotiate with the next U.S. administration under better conditions. Additionally, the strengthening of its relationship with Russia has raised concerns in the West. Since the sending of North Korean soldiers to Russia, there are concerns that Russia, desperate to win the war against Ukraine, may illegally exchange North Korean military personnel and weapons for key technologies that will aid North Korea’s nuclear development. If this is true, it would be a clear violation of the UN Security Council resolution on North Korea.

The top priority for the Trump administration in dealing with the North Korea issue is to halt the progress of the North Korean regime’s nuclear and weapons programs. Additionally, given the high likelihood that North Korea could threaten major U.S. cities with nuclear weapons, it is also essential to find a way for North Korea to rejoin the NPT. Some analysts speculate that North Korea may have other hidden sites for enriching uranium. On September 9th 2024, Kim Jong un announced plans to exponentially expand the country's nuclear arsenal in his speech marking the 76th anniversary of the establishment of the North Korean regime. Therefore the United States should thoroughly monitor North Korea's internal nuclear development activities in coordination with its allied countries. Also, the Trump administration will need to monitor and hold accountable the instances of illegal transactions involving nuclear development technologies between Russia and North Korea that violate the NPT. Additionally, the international community must enforce existing sanctions against North Korea more rigorously. In the meantime, efforts to bring North Korea back to NPT treaty negotiations should be continued. The UN has indicated that dialogue with North Korea is necessary regarding the nuclear issue.

The North Korea nuclear issue is directly connected to global peace, and since nuclear weapons are extremely important and dangerous, it can be said that the entire world is involved in this matter. Countries closely linked to North Korea’s nuclear issue, particularly the United States and South Korea, are expressing even greater concerns. North Korea is increasingly emphasizing its nuclear weapons as symbols of national prestige and power. The various U.S.-led international sanctions have failed to halt North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs. Nevertheless, the U.S. must seek to identify and sanction any secret nuclear development facilities and work towards facilitating North Korea's return to the NPT. Since no one wants North Korea to hold the world in its hands and threaten our daily lives, the world must strive for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.