Senior Pentagon officials have expressed growing concern this morning (Wednesday) of evidence of North Korea’s attempt to increase its nuclear arsenal, Reuters reported. Concerns have surfaced following a report released by the United Nations that presents evidence that North Korea is using nuclear fuel to make weapons.
Admiral Michael Studman, head of the U.S. intelligence service in the Pacific arena, told the news agency that increased activity at North Korea’s nuclear sites could be a message to the Biden administration from North Korea’s control, Kim Jong Un.
“It could serve as a bargaining chip while the new administration examines the Washington-Pyongyang relationship,” the senior official explains, adding: “We are constantly looking at the situation and it is very worrying.”
“If North Korea does use nuclear fuel to make more atomic bombs, it could put a whole different level of pressure on relations between the Biden administration and Fyogenyang,” Admiral Studman said.
In a statement issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s governing body on Monday, the organization’s chairman, Rafael Grossi, said that North Korea had resumed nuclear activities at the Yongbiong and Kangson sites. The sites for atomic bombs. “This is a blatant violation of the agreements with the UN and a very unfortunate operation,” Grossi said.
North Korea owns and has previously conducted several nuclear weapons tests. In 2018, she surprised the world when she entered into negotiations for the denuclearization with US President Donald Trump. Negotiations collapsed after a failed summit in Vietnam and since then North Korea has been threatening to resume its nuclear program.
The closed country has found itself at the height of an unprecedented economic crisis in the country since the 1990s, mainly due to declining trade and investment in the country from China and due to measures designed to prevent the spread of the corona in the country. Pyongyang’s plight may actually intensify its efforts in the field of its nuclear program and ballistic missiles, with the aim that these will serve as a bargaining chip in negotiating relief from its heavy international sanctions and humanitarian aid.