Kim Jong-un orders increase in uranium enrichment

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered an increase in the number of uranium enrichment centrifuges in a "geometric progression" to increase the nuclear arsenal. RIA "Novosti" writes about this.

He visited a uranium enrichment facility, after which Pyongyang for the first time published photos of centrifuges that produce fuel for nuclear weapons, writes Reuters.

In the photos, the North Korean leader walks through rows of metal centrifuges that enrich uranium.

In particular, Kim Jong-un visited the Nuclear Weapons Institute and the nuclear material production base for nuclear weapons, during which he got acquainted with the production of nuclear charges and the current production of nuclear material.

North Korea's leader has urged workers to produce more components for tactical nuclear weapons, saying the country's nuclear arsenal is vital to countering threats from the United States and its allies.

According to Kim Jong Un, the weapons are necessary "for self-defense and the possibility of a preemptive attack."

The DPRK has tested an underwater nuclear weapons system in response to military exercises by the US, Japan and South Korea. This was reported by "Interfax", citing the Korean Central News Agency.

"The Institute of Underwater Weapon Systems under the National Defense Academy of the DPRK conducted an important test of the Heil-5-23 underwater nuclear weapon system under development in the waters of the Sea of ​​Japan," the country's Ministry of Defense reported.

Along with that, it is not specified when exactly the test was conducted, but it is noted that it became a response to the "provocative exercises" of the USA, South Korea and Japan, which have been held since January 15 in the sea around the South Korean island of Jeju.

"The current military exercises... have caused further destabilization of the situation in the region and are actions that seriously threaten the security of our state," the DRC announced.

Pyongyang has warned that it will continue to take retaliatory steps "to deter hostile military actions by the US Navy and its allies" and threatened "disastrous consequences".