North Korea is constructing a two-story uranium enrichment facility.

Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has stated that North Korea has constructed a new two-story uranium enrichment facility. This information was reported by the BBC on Wednesday (September 9). Grossi described the development as a matter of deep concern.

The new building is part of North Korea's main Yongbyon nuclear complex. Reports indicate that the facility has the capacity to house up to 28 centrifuge cascades for uranium enrichment.

According to the IAEA, North Korea has continued to expand its nuclear infrastructure despite international sanctions. Since expelling international inspectors in 2009, the IAEA has primarily monitored the country's nuclear activities through satellite imagery.

In a statement, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said that this expansion of North Korea's nuclear program is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Earlier, on June 3, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the newly constructed nuclear facility and praised the country's efforts to enhance its nuclear capabilities.

Edward Howell, a lecturer at the University of Oxford, noted that a major concern regarding North Korea's nuclear program is the possibility of other secret facilities—such as the one at Kangson—existing outside of Yongbyon. Such facilities are relatively difficult to detect.

The report also mentions that following the construction of a new building at the Kangson facility early last year, signs of operational activity were observed starting in January of this year.

Despite facing international financial constraints, North Korea is spending vast sums to boost its nuclear capabilities. A 2022 research report estimated the country's annual expenditure in this sector at approximately $640 million.

Since 2017, North Korea has conducted tests on various types of missiles and weaponry, including long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). In September of that same year, the country carried out its sixth nuclear test. Later, in 2022, Pyongyang officially declared itself a nuclear-armed state.

In August of this year, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung proposed talks with North Korea aimed at ending the war. At the same time, he advocated for an agreement between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un to halt the production of 15 to 20 nuclear warheads annually. However, North Korea has not yet provided a formal response to that proposal.