The facility is suspected of being a covert part of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, possibly for enriching uranium fuel for weapons or producing components such as centrifuges. 

A view of an entrance to a uranium mine outside the town of Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan, October 23, 2019. Picture taken October 23, 2019. REUTERS/Mariya Gordeyeva 

A shepherd tends his cow next to the uranium ore dump near the town of Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan, October 23, 2019. Picture taken October 23, 2019. REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev 

A woman walks across a garbage landfill next to the uranium ore dump near the town of Mailuu-suu, Kyrgyzstan, October 23, 2019. Picture taken October 23, 2019. REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev 

The ruined building of ex-soviet plant used to process and partially enrich uranium ore from nearest mines is seen in the town of Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan, October 25, 2019. Picture taken October 25, 2019. REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev 

A bird sits on a radiation sign at the uranium ore dump near the town of Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan, October 23, 2019. Picture taken October 23, 2019. REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev 

A man rides on a motorcycle near the uranium ore dump near the town of Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan, October 23, 2019. Picture taken October 23, 2019. REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev 

Protesters hold banners during a rally demanding a release of Mukhtar Dzhakishev, former chief executive of Kazakh uranium mining company Kazatomprom, in Almaty, Kazakhstan September 10, 2019. REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev 

Protesters hold banners during a rally demanding a release of Mukhtar Dzhakishev, former chief executive of Kazakh uranium mining company Kazatomprom, in Almaty, Kazakhstan September 10, 2019. The placard reads: "Freedom for Mukhtar Dzhakishev". REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev 

Graffiti that reads "No to the mine, go away" is seen next to a "No trespassing" sign near a site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkeley Energia, near Salamanca, in Retortillo, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

The offices of Australian mining company Berkeley Energia are seen near a planned open-cast uranium mine in Retortillo, near Salamanca, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

An area that has been cleared of trees is seen at the site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkeley Energia in the village of Retortillo, near Salamanca, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

A man takes a walk in the village of Retortillo, site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkeley Energia, near Salamanca, in Retortillo, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

Raquel Romo, 44, a member of the "Stop Uranium" group, poses by graffiti on the road that reads "No mine" outside her parents' house near the site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkeley Energia in the village of Retortillo, near Salamanca, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

An empty playground is seen in the village of Retortillo, site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkeley Energia, near Salamanca, in Retortillo, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

A dog wanders in the empty streets of Retortillo, site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkeley Energia, near Salamanca, in Retortillo, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

Raquel Romo, 44, a member of the "Stop Uranium" group, poses near a sign that reads "Stop Uranium. No to the mine, yes to life" outside her parent's house near the site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkeley Energia in the village of Retortillo, near Salamanca, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

The Retortillo spa is seen near the site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkeley Energia outside the village of Retortillo, near Salamanca, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

Graffiti is seen on a road sign at the entrance to the village of Retortillo, site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkeley Energia, near Salamanca, in Retortillo, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

A sign in favour of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkeley Energia which reads "Yes to the Mine, to Jobs, to the Future" is seen in the village of Retortillo, near Salamanca, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

Crosses left by anti-mine supporters that used to read "No to the mine, yes to life" are seen near the site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkeley Energia in the village of Retortillo, near Salamanca, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

Eugenia Gonzalez wears a pin that reads "Stop Uranium" outside her house near the site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkeley Energia in the village of Retortillo, near Salamanca, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

A sign reading "Danger Explosive Materials" is seen near the site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkely Energia in the village of Retortillo, near Salamanca, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

A sign reading "Danger Explosive Materials" is seen near the site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkely Energia in the village of Retortillo, near Salamanca, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

A Berkely sign is seen near the planned site of an open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkely Energia in the village of Retortillo, near Salamanca, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

A sign in favor of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkely Energia which reads "Yes to the Mine, to Jobs, to the Future" is seen in a field in the village of Retortillo, near Salamanca, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

A sign in favor of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkely Energia which reads "Yes to the Mine, to Jobs, to the Future" is seen in a field in the village of Retortillo, near Salamanca, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

A sign in favor of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkely Energia which reads "Yes to the Mine, to Jobs, to the Future" is seen in a field in the village of Retortillo, near Salamanca, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

Graffiti is seen on a road sign at the entrance to the village of Retortillo, site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkely Energia, near Salamanca, in Retortillo, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

Graffiti is seen on a road sign at the entrance to the village of Retortillo, site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkely Energia, near Salamanca, in Retortillo, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

An abandoned building with graffiti referring radioactivity is seen at the entrance to the village of Retortillo, site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkely Energia, near Salamanca, in Retortillo, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

A cyclist passes by a building with graffiti reading "Funeral Homes Now, Mine on the Way" at the entrance to the village of Retortillo, site of a planned open-cast uranium mine by Australian mining company Berkely Energia, near Salamanca, in Retortillo, Spain, October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Susana Vera 

A technician works in front of a uranium conversion reactor inside nuclear group Orano's COMURHEX II at a nuclear power plant site in Tricastin, France, September 10, 2018. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier 

A technician works in front of a uranium conversion reactor inside nuclear group Orano's COMURHEX II at a nuclear power plant site in Tricastin, France, September 10, 2018. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier 

A warning sign is seen next to the entry to the Northeast Church Rock abandoned uranium mine in Pinedale, New Mexico, U.S. July 19, 2018. Picture taken July 19, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters 

A warning sign is seen next to the entry to the Northeast Church Rock abandoned uranium mine in Pinedale, New Mexico, U.S. July 19, 2018. Picture taken July 19, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters, 

The entrance to the Northeast Church Rock abandoned uranium mine is seen in Pinedale, New Mexico, U.S. July 19, 2018. Picture taken July 19, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters 

Warning signs are seen next to the entry to the Northeast Church Rock abandoned uranium mine in Pinedale, New Mexico, U.S. July 19, 2018. Picture taken July 19, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters 

Warning signs are seen next to the entry to the Northeast Church Rock abandoned uranium mine in Pinedale, New Mexico, U.S. July 19, 2018. Picture taken July 19, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters 

A warning sign is seen next to the entry to the Northeast Church Rock abandoned uranium mine in Pinedale, New Mexico, U.S. July 19, 2018. Picture taken July 19, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters 

The entrance to the Northeast Church Rock abandoned uranium mine is seen in Pinedale, New Mexico, U.S. July 19, 2018. Picture taken July 19, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters 

Fire Rock Navajo Casino is seen in Church Rock, New Mexico, U.S. July 20, 2018. Picture taken July 20, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters 

Fire Rock Navajo Casino is seen in Church Rock, New Mexico, U.S. July 20, 2018. Picture taken July 20, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters 

Fire Rock Navajo Casino is seen in Church Rock, New Mexico, U.S. July 20, 2018. Picture taken July 20, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters 

The entrance to the Northeast Church Rock abandoned uranium mine is seen in Pinedale, New Mexico, U.S. July 19, 2018. Picture taken July 19, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters 

A sign marks the entrance to Gallup, New Mexico, U.S. July 24, 2018. Picture taken July 24, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters 

The Northeast Church Rock abandoned uranium mine is seen in Pinedale, New Mexico, U.S. July 19, 2018. Picture taken July 19, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters 

A sign announces the entrance to Gallup, New Mexico, U.S. July 19, 2018. Picture taken July 19, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters 

A protest sign saying "No Mining" in Navajo is seen next to the entry to the Northeast Church Rock abandoned uranium mine in Pinedale, New Mexico, U.S. July 19, 2018. Picture taken July 19, 2018. REUTERS/Pamela J. Peters 

Uranium stone is seen at a news conference of Macusani Yellowcake and Plateau Energy in Lima, Peru July 16, 2018. REUTERS/Mariana Bazo 

Uranium samples are seen in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear material laboratory in Seibersdorf, Austria June 13, 2018. Picture taken June 13, 2018. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger 

Uranium samples are seen in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear material laboratory in Seibersdorf, Austria June 13, 2018. Picture taken June 13, 2018. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger 

Uranium samples are seen in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear material laboratory in Seibersdorf, Austria June 13, 2018. Picture taken June 13, 2018. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger 

A uranium sample is seen in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear material laboratory in Seibersdorf, Austria June 13, 2018. Picture taken June 13, 2018. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger 

Schéma expliquant le procédé en cascade d'enrichissement de l'uranium 

Diagram explaining how uranium enrichment works 

Uranium glass occupies an little-known niche in the collectibles world, whose members appreciate its soft colour and distinctive glow, which comes from the uranium added as the glass was created. The glass is slightly radioactive, enough to register on Geiger counters. But the levels are about the same as electrical appliances like microwave ovens emit, so they represent no threat to health. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth SEARCH "RADIOACTIVE VINTAGE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. Matching text: URANIUM-GLASS/