North Korea showing 'serious increase' in ability to make nuclear weapons: IAEA chief

Seoul: North Korea is showing a "very serious increase" in its ability to produce nuclear weapons, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said in Seoul on Wednesday.

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"In our periodic assessments, we have been able to confirm that there's a rapid increase in the operations" at the Yongbyon nuclear reactor, Rafael Grossi said at a news conference.


"All that points to a very serious increase in the capabilities of (the) DPRK in the area of nuclear weapons production, which is estimated at a few dozen warheads," he said, referring to North Korea by its official name.