South Korea has reported that North Korea appears to have significantly increased its supplies of enriched uranium, with estimates suggesting it now possesses 2,000 kg (approximately 4,400 pounds) of highly enriched uranium at a purity level of 90% or higher. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young stated that this quantity would allow for the production of about 47 nuclear weapons, highlighting North Korea’s operation of four active uranium enrichment plants, including the previously decommissioned Yongbyon facility.

Chung emphasized the urgent need to halt North Korea’s nuclear developments but critiqued the efficacy of sanctions, advocating instead for a summit between Pyongyang and Washington. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear issue have stalled since 2019 when talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then-U.S. President Donald Trump ended without an agreement. Kim has indicated a willingness to resume discussions, provided that the demand for nuclear disarmament is not a precondition.

Current South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who assumed office in June, has adopted a more conciliatory stance toward North Korea than his predecessor, Yoon Suk-yeol, focusing on dialogue rather than regime change. This shift aims to address concerns over North Korea’s expanding nuclear capabilities.



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