North Korea’s covert nuclear weapons program is progressing swiftly, according to the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog. Rafael Grossi raised concerns about North Korea’s increasing threat to global stability due to its expanding nuclear arsenal. He expressed frustration over the lack of transparency regarding the country’s nuclear weapons program, which has seen rapid advancements despite enduring international sanctions.
In an interview with The Telegraph, the director general of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency highlighted the risk of a potential new nuclear arms race on a global scale. Grossi emphasized the significant growth of North Korea’s activities, particularly in its ballistic missile program, which is closely linked to its nuclear ambitions.
Under Kim Jong Un’s leadership, North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency boasted in February about substantial enhancements to its “war deterrence” centered around nuclear forces. Estimates from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute indicate that North Korea currently possesses approximately 50 nuclear warheads, with the capacity to produce up to 40 more.
North Korea has been conducting prohibited tests of intercontinental missiles regularly. Recently, the country announced the test-launch of ballistic missiles equipped with cluster bomb warheads, marking the second such test within a month. These actions have raised tensions, as confirmed by South Korea, Japan, and the US, which detected multiple ballistic missile launches from North Korea’s east coast.
Photographs released by KCNA showed Kim Jong Un and his daughter observing the missile launches. The missiles, including upgraded surface-to-surface Hwasong-11 Ra ballistic missiles with cluster bomb warheads, successfully hit a designated island target. Kim expressed satisfaction with the launches, emphasizing the importance of enhancing military capabilities.
Despite international efforts to ban the use of cluster munitions, North Korea, along with countries like Iran, Israel, and the US, have not signed the treaty. The 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has been signed by 191 states, with major nuclear-weapon states such as the US, Russia, the UK, France, and China being key signatories. However, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea, possessing nuclear weapons, are not covered by the NPT.
The global nuclear landscape remains complex, with over 12,300 nuclear warheads worldwide. Among the recognized nuclear-weapon states, Russia, the US, and the UK possess the largest stockpiles. The NPT does not encompass all nuclear-armed states, highlighting ongoing challenges in nuclear disarmament efforts.