According to the 38 North North Korea monitoring project, satellite images show a significant level of activity at North Korea's main nuclear site. The report states that this activity could indicate that the Experimental Light Water Reactor (ELWR) at Yongbyon is nearing completion and transitioning to an operational status. The images, taken on March 3 and 17, also indicate that a 5 megawatt reactor at Yongbyon is still operating and that construction has begun on a support building around the ELWR. In addition, new construction has started around Yongbyon's uranium enrichment plant, possibly to expand its capabilities.
The report suggests that these developments reflect the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's recent directive to increase the country's fissile material production to expand its nuclear weapons arsenal. Earlier this week, North Korea unveiled new, smaller nuclear warheads and vowed to produce more weapons-grade nuclear material to expand its arsenal. However, it is unclear whether North Korea has fully developed miniaturized nuclear warheads that can fit on smaller weapons.
South Korea and the United States have warned since early 2022 that North Korea may resume nuclear testing at any time. In a report published last year, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimated that North Korea had assembled up to 20 nuclear warheads and likely had sufficient fissile material for approximately 45-55 nuclear devices"
