Kim Jong-un reminds world of nuclear threat by opening factory which ‘can make bombs’ on first visit since death rumours
KIM Jong-un's reappearance at a state-run industrial plant is a chilling reminder of his threat to the world as some fear the site may be a front for his nuclear missiles programme.
The North Korean leader turned up at the Sunchon Phosphatic Fertiliser Factory, north of the capital Pyongyang, 20 days after going missing amid claims he had died or was fighting for his life.
However, the innocent-looking plant has been the focus of international attention over growing concerns it may be used to obtain the uranium needed to make nukes,
“The DPRK does need fertiliser, and the information on how to extract uranium in the midst of that process is readily available,” Margaret Croy, of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, wrote last month.
Her research claimed the plant offers Kim the chance to both help agricultural production in the secretive state and aid in extracting uranium from the phosphoric acid used in fertiliser.
Some observers believe the industrial site is the perfect way for the rogue state to hide its nuclear ambitions from the rest of the world - after it was hit by sanctions to stop it getting the components needed to make nukes.
“The implication of such work being conducted in the DPRK is clear: it has the potential to considerably alter open-source estimates of how much yellowcake uranium the DPRK is able to produce annually, which in turn affects estimates of how many nuclear warheads the DPRK can make,” Croy wrote.
Satellite images of Kim's previous visit to the fertiliser site in January revealed it had grown massively since the groundbreaking ceremony in 2017.
And according to state media the plant has been visited by high-ranking North Korea officials several times over the past three years.
However, Croy’s paper didn’t offer any actual proof that the plant was a part of Kim’s nuclear program and some other analysts are not so sure, reports Bloomberg.
“Theoretically, the fertiliser factory can be used to produce yellowcake, but why would the North do that when it already can produce something more advanced than that?” said Cho Han-bum, of the Korea Institute for National Unification.
'ROCKET MAN'
However, it wouldn't be a big surprise for Kim to turn up at a "bomb factory."
President Donald Trump infamously dubbed his North Korean counterpart Rocket Man over is apparent love of weapons.
And in 2017 official figures showed HALF of his 75 public appearances were related to military activities.
During Kim's reign, his weapons experts have developed a hydrogen bomb and an intercontinental ballistic missile reportedly capable of delivering a warhead to all of the US.
On Saturday, the Sun Online told how video footage of Kim's visit to the factory in appeared to show a small wound on his right wrist – a mark which was not present on his previous public appearance on April 11.
According to , a US-funded outlet known for its reliable insight into the rogue state, medical experts have assessed the clip and believe the puncture wound is related to a “cardiovascular procedure”.
Kim, who is known to struggle with his weight, is also seen riding an electric cart around the factory – a vehicle he did need while visiting the site in January, it has been reported.
In fact, the despot used a similar cart in 2014 when he reemerged using a walking stick after vanishing for 40 days following reported ankle or leg surgery.
On Friday he appeared alongside his sister Kim Yo-jong, who had been tipped to succeed him, at the fertiliser plant, the pictures show.
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Concern over his health began when he failed to appear at an important celebration on April 15, to mark the birthday of Kim Il-sung, his grandfather and the founder of the country.
Continuing the rumours, a Chinese journalist Shijian Xingzou said a “very solid source” told her the North Korean leader had died.
Separately, a Japanese media outlet claimed Kim was in a “vegetative state” after undergoing heart surgery.
