International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Secretary-General Rafael Grossi evaluated that North Korea's nuclear facilities were "more advanced and geographically expanded than in 2009 (when inspections were stopped)."



At an online seminar held by the US think tank Stimson Foundation on the 21st (local time), Secretary-General Grosi said, "I cannot comment in too much detail" after being asked about North Korea's nuclear processing capability and the possibility of a nuclear facility outside of Yongbyon. I answered like this.



"As an analyst, I don't like to speculate about nuclear capabilities," he said, stating, "What's there is not this compound anymore. It's more than that. So that's what we're worried about."



“The verification and protection work we will face will be huge, so we need to be prepared,” he said.



When asked about the next steps North Korea would take, he said in a recent report, "They are doing everything they can in every area imaginable." "The reactor has been restarted, and the plutonium separation In progress," he replied.



"Uranium enrichment is probably real, and there are signs that other facilities are also operating," he added.



he is "At the same time, I want to say that Secretary of State Tony Blincoln has confirmed that the Biden administration is still working in an attempt to revive the agreement with Pyongyang."



Meanwhile, Secretary-General Grosi said, "The biggest worry is that there is no democratic process at all." I did.



Earlier, the IAEA said in its annual board of directors report in September that "there have been circumstances consistent with the operation of the nuclear reactor, including the discharge of cooling water, since early July 2021," regarding the 5 megawatt (MW) reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear facility in North Korea.



The IAEA also pointed out in June that North Korea was reprocessing plutonium from spent fuel rods at the Yongbyon nuclear facility.



At the 65th IAEA General Assembly held on the 20th of last month, Secretary-General Grosi pointed out the seriousness of the signs of restarting the Yongbyon nuclear facility and said, "Work on plutonium separation (extraction), uranium enrichment, and other activities in North Korea is proceeding at full speed." was concerned.



(Photo = Getty Images Korea)