Abstract:
Shortly after 1947, the USSR initiated the export of large quantities of monazite from North Korea to the USSR. Thorium and uranium-oxide are key raw materials extracted from monazite. Production was interrupted during the Korean War, but is believed to have resumed shortly after the 1953 Truce Agreement. In 1952, the PRC reportedly sent a leading scientist to North Korea on a secret mission to collect radioactive material. In 1959, the USSR and North Korea signed a nuclear cooperation treaty. Since 1956, approximately 30 North Korean nuclear physicists and engineers have trained in the USSR. It is also believed that a small number of North Korean scientist were also educated in the PRC and that it has assisted in locating and mining radioactive materials within North Korea. By the mid-1970s North Korea had taken delivery of two USSR-supplied 2-4 MW research reactors. In July 1977, North Korea signed an agreement with the IAEA by which the two reactors could be monitored. The USSR leases nuclear fuel rods to North Korea so it can retain control over their use. US satellite photos reveal that an indigenously designed 30-MW reactor in North Korea is a virtual replica of the UK's Calder Hall magnox reactor, started up in 1956. It is believed that North Korean scientist and technicians acquired the expertise in refining and mining natural uranium while training in the USSR or the PRC. In exchange for the acceptance of the NPT, North Korea secured from the USSR an agreement to construct a nuclear power plant in North Korea. The plant is scheduled to be constructed with USSR assistance, as part of the Soviets' 12th Five- Year Economic Plan (1986-90). It is estimated that this power plant will have an installed capacity of 1760 MW and be the first of its kind within North Korea. On 22 May 1989, a protocol on "cooperation in the field of atomic energy for peaceful purposes" was signed between North Korea and Czechoslovakia. On the same day, the two countries also signed a 1989-90 working plan. North Korea continues to gather information concerning civilian developments in South Korea by, among other tactics,employing dissident and foreign students to photograph installations and obtain published information. Moreover, North Korea has attempted to sabotage nuclear facilities in South Korea; for example, the August 1983 raid against the Canadian built Wolsung nuclear power plant.

COUNTRY ABSTRACT:

This article describes the development of the North Korean nuclear industry. In 1947, with assistance from the USSR, North Korea began surveying its mazonite mines. Shortly afterwards, North Korea began exporting large quantities of the material to the USSR, of which thorium and uranium-oxide may be extracted. By the mid-1970s, North Korea had taken delivery of two Soviet-supplied 2-4 MW research reactors. In August 1983, North Korea attempted to raid the South Korean Wolsung nuclear power plant. In December 1985, North Korea agreed to formally accept the conditions of the NPT and agreed to place a nuclear facility under international inspection. In February 1986, US Army Chief of Staff, Gen. John Wickham, said that the US hasn't found any evidence of North Korean nuclear capabilities, but that it is looking very carefully to find out about that. Since the 29 December 1986 establishment of a Nuclear Power Industry Ministry under the director of Choe Hak-kun, North Korea has been active in the establishment of international nuclear connections and the forwarding of nuclear research. On 22 May 1989 Hak-kun and Stanislav Havel, Chairman of the Czechoslovak Nuclear Energy Commission, signed a protocol on cooperation in the field of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. In 1952, the PRC reportedly sent a leading scientist, Wang Gauchang, on a secret mission to North Korea to collect "radioactive." It is also believed that a small number of North Korean nuclear scientists were educated in the PRC and that it has assisted in locating and mining radioactive materials within North Korea. After stifling an attempted raid in August 1983 by North Korea, South Korea commented that they believe the target was its Wolsung nuclear power plant. The US has presented their concerns of a possible North Korean nuclear weapons capability to the USSR. In turn the USSR applied considerable pressure for North Korea to accept the conditions of the NPT, which it did on 12 December 1985.