N.Korea Releases First Images of Uranium Enrichment Facility

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Kim Jong Un

USA Today

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Associated Press

Sep 13, 2024

Image copyright: Contributor/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Imagesstory last updated Sep 15

The Facts

North Korea's state media showed images of a uranium enrichment facility for the first time on Friday, with leader Kim Jong Un inspecting rows of centrifuges and a control room at the base.
The release comes as Kim said this week that the number of the nation's nuclear weapons will be "exponentially" increased, but it's unclear when his visit took place. The location of the now-revealed top-secret weapons-grade uranium plant remains undisclosed.

The Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

Though Kim may seem like an irrational actor, he's simply using the only leverage he has in dealing with South Korea and the US. His nuclear ambitions are designed to seek political gains and sanctions relief after successive American administrations have derailed diplomatic routes to denuclearization.

Pro-establishment narrative

As much as North Korea wishes to flex its military potential and engage in bombastic rhetoric, it would be best for Pyongyang not to push this too far. The North is well known to suffer extreme economic hardship, and it's near-impossible for them to keep masking vulnerabilities with dangerous propaganda and military activity.

Metaculus Prediction

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Kim Jong Un

Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

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