NUCLEAR PROGRAM

North Korea's Nuclear Related Facilities and Organizations

Facilities:

Hungnam

In 1992, the area around the east coast city of Hungnam was identified as the location for an operational uranium mine. The current status of its operability, and the quality and quantity of uranium ore being mined is unknown.

Hamhung

The University of Chemical Industry (formerly the Hamhung University of Chemical Industry) is possibly responsible for research and education of scientists and technicians in the reprocessing aspects of North Korea's nuclear program.

Kusong

Located about 50km west of Yongbyon, Kusong is believed to be a site for uranium processing, specifically, uranium refinement (ore to U0₂). It is reported to have a daily capacity of 300kg of uranium ore.

Nanam

Nanam is located on the east coast, southwest of Ch'ongjin. It is the site for an Atomic Energy Research Center, established in 1982. The number of personnel and its mission are presently unknown.

Pakch'on

Located 22km south of Yongbyon, Pakch'on is the site for an Atomic Energy Research Center, as well as a uranium refinement (ore to U0₂) facility and one of the DPRK's primary uranium mines (Sunchon-Wolbingson mine 50km to the south).

P'yongsan

Located 95km southeast of P'yongyang and 50km north of the DMZ, P'yongsan reportedly has a uranium mining and refinement (ore to U0₂) facility. The refinement facility is believed to have been completed in 1984 and may have achieved operational status in 1986 (or possibly 1990). The uranium mine is believed to have been operational from the late 1970s. The current status of its operability, and the capabilities and capacities of these facilities are unknown.

P'yongsong

P'yongsong is located 28km north of P'yongyang and 63km south of Yongbyon. It is the site for the P'yongsong Scientific University and an Atomic Energy Research Center, both of which were reportedly established in 1982. Some sources estimate that the Research Center has 5,000 to 6,000 personnel, considerably larger than the Atomic Energy Research Center at Yongbyon.

P'yongyang

The College of Nuclear Physics of Kim Il Song University and the College of Nuclear Physics of the Kim Ch'aek University of Technology are both located in P'yongyang. Both are involved in the training of nuclear specialists and in basic nuclear research. In addition, Soviet-supplied laboratory-scale "hot cells" and a sub-critical assembly are reportedly located at the College of Nuclear Physics of Kim Il Song University. P'yongyang is also the site for an Atomic Energy Research Center (also called a Radioactivity Protection Research Institute) that was established in 1978. This Research Center is believed to be engaged in accelerator research.

Sinp'o

The east coast city of Sinp'o was the prospective site of three Soviet 635MWe power reactors. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, this project was abandoned and the DPRK decided to pursue the construction of an indigenous nuclear power plant. Construction of Sinpo-1 and -2, two 1000MWe nuclear power reactors has been reasonably firmly planned and is in its early stages. In addition, a uranium mine is currently under development.

Sunch'on

Sunch'on is located 47km north of P'yongyang. Identified in 1992, it is the site of an operational uranium mine. The mine itself is sometimes referred to as the "Sunch'on Number 2" mine. The current status of its operability, and the quality and quantity of uranium ore being mined is unknown.

T'aech'on

Located 30km northwest of Yongbyon, construction of a 200MWe gas-graphite reactor was suspended under the US-DPRK Agreed Framework. If resumed, this reactor has the potential to produce 200kg of plutonium per year.

Unggi

Identified in 1992, Unggi is the site of an operational uranium mine. The current status of its operability, and the quality and quantity of uranium ore being mined is unknown.

Wonsan

In 1978 an Atomic Energy Research Center (also called a Radioactivity Protection Research Institute) was reportedly established in the east coast city of Wonsan. The number of personnel and its mission are presently unknown.

Yongbyon

Yongbyon is the heart of the DPRK's nuclear program. It is the site of the Yongbyon-1, a 5MWe gas-graphite reactor, as well as a partially completed plutonium extraction facility, a fuel fabrication plant, fuel storage facilities, and a Soviet-supplied IRT research reactor and critical assembly. Under the US-DPRK Agreed Framework, activities at Yongbyon-1, the fuel fabrication facility, and the reprocessing plant have been frozen. In addition, the construction of Yongbyon-2 a 50MWe gas-graphite reactor was suspended.

Organizations:

Korean Workers Party 2nd Economic Committee	Responsible for supervising and coordinating the nuclear program
Ministry of Atomic Energy Industry (MAEI)	Responsible for the overall supervision and coordination of the nuclear program, and international cooperation
Academy of Sciences	Responsible for conducting education, theoretical and practical research, and general program integration
Mining Industry Committee	Responsible for the mining of uranium and rare earth elements
Ministry of Public Security	Responsible for handling overall security, construction, and materials acquisition
Ministry of State Security	Responsible for military-industrial security, nuclear weapons storage and transportation, and the nuclear command communications network
Ministry of People's Armed Forces	Responsible for integrating weapons systems and provides delivery vehicles

[NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM]

[Sources: Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "North Korea's Nuclear Infrastructure," Jane's Intelligence Review, February 1994, pp. 74-79; "North Korea," Tracking Nuclear Proliferation, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1995, pp. 103-110; 1997 World Nuclear Industry Handbook, Nuclear Engineering International, 1997.]

Last Updated June 1998

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by MIIS.