North Korea’s ongoing nuclear activities are a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and a cause for serious concern, according to a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The August report lays out deeply troubling actions taken by the country, including the expansion of uranium enrichment capabilities.
Since 2021, an expansion in North Korea’s enrichment capacity has been observed, with extensions to existing enrichment facilities at the Yongbyon site and at Kangson, and the construction of an additional uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon. The document notes that IAEA inspectors have not been present in North Korea since 2009 and that rather than stopping activities, it appears that the nation has expanded its program.
There were indications of expanded mining, milling and concentration activities at the Pyongsan Uranium Mine and the Pyongsan Uranium Concentrate Plant, and ongoing activity at the Wolbisan Uranium Mine. This physical expansion of infrastructure suggests a shift in strategy from merely maintaining capabilities to actively increasing production volume.
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North Korea conducted nuclear tests in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2017. Those tests led to United Nations Security Council passing resolutions demanding that North Korea abandon all nuclear weapons and essentially cease its program. The measure also called on the nation to allow IAEA inspectors access to facilities to verify compliance. Contrary to the requirements of those resolutions, North Korea has not abandoned its existing nuclear programme in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner or ceased all related activities.
In September 2025, North Korea stated that it was a nuclear weapons state and that this had become irreversible. The country also asserted that the IAEA had no legal right to interfere in the internal affairs of a nuclear weapons state. North Korea has also conducted numerous missile tests in an apparent effort to boost its capabilities.
The Council on Foreign Relations think tank noted that North Korea launched a record number of missiles in 2022, following two years of inactivity. Frequent tests have continued into 2023 and included its first solid-fuel ICMB, the Hwasong-18, which requires less time to launch and is easier to hide. If successfully developed, it would decrease the probability of success of a pre-emptive strike on North Korea’s arsenal.
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The U.S. has responded to the ongoing missile tests by North Korea by deploying an anti-missile system to South Korea. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is located in the Seongju region of South Korea, one hundred and fifty-five miles from the northern border.
Additionally, the U.S. has continued economic sanctions against North Korea and, in 2017, placed the nation on its list of countries that had sponsored terrorism. It is clear that the situation remains a serious concern, with North Korea’s actions violating United Nations Security Council resolutions.