{
  "id": 8017351,
  "title": "IAEA members raise ‘concern’ over North Korea’s nuclear expansion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/iaea-members-raise-concern-over-north-koreas-nuclear-expansion",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T11:39:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/09/17/iaea-members-raise-concern-over-north-korea-s-nuclear-expansion"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) members voiced growing apprehension over escalating nuclear activities in North Korea during their annual conference in Vienna. In a resolution passed on Thursday, the agency's 103 member countries, backed by 61, expressed serious concerns over the DPRK's nuclear program. Only six nations, including Russia and China, opposed the motion, with 14 abstentions.\n\nThe resolution emphasized that North Korea's nuclear activities \"continue to be a cause of serious concern\" and urged the government to halt all such activities. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea's leader, dismissed calls for denuclearization as \"familiar silly talk\" at the IAEA conference, stating that North Korea's nuclear-armed status is \"absolute.\"\n\nNorth Korea is believed to operate uranium enrichment facilities at Yongbyon, Kangson, and Kusong. The country reportedly decommissioned a uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon in 2021, but it later reactivated it. Additionally, a new annex at the Kangson enrichment site is operational, indicating further expansion in the DPRK's capacity to produce weapons-grade nuclear material. The agency's chief, Rafael Grossi, identified an extra uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon ahead of the conference, highlighting the country's long-term plan to strengthen its national nuclear force, announced by Kim Jong Un in February.",
  "summary": "Some 103 countries backed the motion calling on North Korea’s government to halt its nuclear activities, with just six opposing it, including Russia and China.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "North Korea says U.S.-led arms buildup justifies expanding nuclear force",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/north-korea-says-u-s-led-arms-buildup-justifies-expanding-nuclear",
        "published": "2026-09-17T06:15:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "North Korea accused of using overseas workers finance nuclear weapons",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/north-korea-accused-of-using-overseas-workers-finance-nuclear-weapons",
        "published": "2026-09-17T07:44:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "North Korea says US-led arms buildup justifies expanding nuclear force",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/north-korea-says-us-led-arms-buildup-justifies-expanding-nuclear-force",
        "published": "2026-09-17T09:15:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "North Korea refrains from deploying troops inside Ukraine to avoid heavy casualties – Zelenskyy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/north-korea-refrains-from-deploying-troops-inside-ukraine-to-avoid",
        "published": "2026-09-17T10:55:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "IAEA members raise 'concern' over North Korea nuclear expansion",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/iaea-members-raise-concern-over-north-korea-nuclear-expansion",
        "published": "2026-09-17T11:36:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "IAEA members raise ‘concern’ over North Korea’s nuclear expansion",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/iaea-members-raise-concern-over-north-koreas-nuclear-expansion-8019936",
        "published": "2026-09-17T11:39:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}