IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi spoke about the possibility of Russia playing a role in North Korea’s engagement with the IAEA. The agency described his comments as indicating that Moscow could offer ways to interact with the IAEA or help establish pathways that rebuild trust between North Korea and other nations where dialogue had stalled.
Grossi noted North Korea’s expressed interest in working with the IAEA and clarified that there have been no talks about granting IAEA inspectors access to North Korea at this time.
In remarks from June, Grossi underscored ongoing concerns about North Korea’s nuclear program and reiterated that the country is not in compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. He highlighted that the Punggye-ri test site remains prepared for potential nuclear activity and that recent observations indicate continued activity there. Moreover, he pointed to signs of renewed nuclear work and a noticeable uptick in construction at Yongbyon since March 2023.
There have also been critiques from the Russian Foreign Ministry accusing Grossi of downplaying the risks associated with depleted uranium, a dispute that has added tension to the broader discussion surrounding regional nuclear safeguards and transparency.