Kim Jong Un Inspects Nuclear Material Facility, Orders 'Exponential' Increase in Nuclear Arsenal

North Korean state media reported on Thursday that leader Kim Jong Un inspected a newly opened nuclear material production facility and ordered an 'exponential' increase in the country's nuclear arsenal. Kim stated that the production capacity of weapons-grade nuclear material has more than doubled over the past five years and called for further 'exponential' growth to achieve long-term strategic goals. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), during the inspection, Kim received briefings on the progress of nuclear material production and new technologies, and reviewed current output and future plans. Kim pointed out that expanding the nuclear arsenal is inevitable due to increasing external security threats and prolonged confrontation with hostile forces, and reaffirmed the policy of nuclear deterrence. On the same day, Kim convened a meeting on strengthening nuclear forces, where he outlined policy guidelines to accelerate the qualitative and quantitative expansion of North Korea's nuclear arsenal. Kim stated that North Korea has 'established a key milestone for nuclear development.'