North Korea goes even more nuclear
6/8/202627 min
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has announced plans to expand the country's nuclear arsenal at ‘an exponential rate’, according to state media reports.
His announcement comes as China’s president, Xi Jinping, is making his first visit to Pyongyang this week since 2019 – the same year Donald Trump met Kim Jong Un several times for failed talks on denuclearisation.
We speak to the BBC’s Celia Hatton about why China might now be trying to keep North Korea in check.
Producers: Xandra Ellin, Sam Chantarasak and Aron Keller
Executive producer: James Shield
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
Studio manager: Mike Regaard
Digital producer: Tom Bage
Photo: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the fifth session of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), in Pyongyang, North Korea, February 23, 2026. Credit: KCNA/Reuters
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First 90 secondsAsma Khalid· Host0:00
Before we dive into today's show, we wanna tell you all about something exciting that we are cooking up for later this week, tied to the launch of the World Cup. We're calling up an expert to answer all of your unanswered questions about the big soccer tournament.
Tristan Redman· Host0:14
Uh, or the big football tournament, potentially- Mm ... uh, depending on where you are. Uh, we wanna hear from you. Whatever questions you have about the sports or the geopolitics or the pop culture of it all, email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com with your questions. We'll be delighted to hear from you.
Asma Khalid· Host0:31
Now, you generally don't hear a whole lot of news from North Korea. It's considered a hermit kingdom, closed off to reporters, tourists, much of the world.
Tristan Redman· Host0:39
But the other day, the country's state news agency released some photos showing Kim Jong Un inspecting a new nuclear weapons facility at an undisclosed location.
Asma Khalid· Host0:51
The reports say Kim called for an exponential expansion of North Korea's atomic arsenal. He said his country's capacity to produce weapons-grade nuclear material was already more than double where it was five years ago.
Tristan Redman· Host1:04
While Washington's been focused on the possibility that Iran could get the bomb, has the world been paying too little attention to a country that already has nuclear weapons?
Asma Khalid· Host1:17
You're probably gonna hear quite a few headlines about North Korea in the next few days. It's not just the nuclear weapons. The Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, is visiting Pyongyang this week in another sign that North Korea is