Location: Shinhŭng-kun (新興郡), South Hamgyŏng Province (咸鏡南道), North Korea

Subordinate to: 5th Machine Industry Bureau (第5機械産業總局), Second Economic Committee (第2經濟委員會) for chemical weapons production, and the Ministry of Chemical Industry (化學工業省) for civilian production

Size: 1,235,870 square meters

Primary Function: Production of agricultural chemicals (e.g., herbicides), and numerous other chemicals such as calcium hypochlorite, caustic soda, dyes, hydrochloric acid, paints, vinyl chloride, polyvinyl chloride, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, barium chloride, ammonium sulfate fertilizer, magnetized fertilizer, slag fertilizer, and sulfuric acid fertilizer; possible production of CW-related agents

Description: In April 1995, the Rodong Sinmun reported that the Shinhŭng Chemical Complex had "one or more" absorption towers, recovery furnaces, vacuum pumps, and washing towers, as well as catalytic recovery processing equipment. In June 1996, the Pyongyang Times reported that "the production of vinyl chloride is increasing at the Shinhŭng Chemical Complex." None of the products known to be produced at this facility, with the possible exception of vinyl chloride, would have much direct use in the manufacture of CW agents. Despite allegations of producing "unknown CW-related agents," given current open source information, it is difficult to ascribe Shinhŭng as a site for CW agent or weapon manufacturing. In February 1995, the Rodong Sinmun described one or more synthesis towers at the complex's Youth Vinyl Chloride Workshop, with more related equipment located at the Agricultural Chemicals Workshop. The complex also administers the Sŏngch'ŏngang Chemical Complex (城川江化學工場) and the Yongsŏng Chemical Factory (龍城化學工場), which "specializes in the production of dyes and paints." The Hŭngnam Pharmaceutical Factory (興南製藥工場) is also associated with the Shinhŭng Chemical Complex.

Exterior view of the Shinhŭng Chemical Complex (Foreign Trade of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, February 1994)

Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) production at the Shinhŭng Chemical Complex (photograph from The P'yongyang Times, 22 June 1996)

Process control room, Shinhŭng Chemical Complex (Foreign Trade of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, February 1994)

Polymerization section of the facility, Shinhŭng Chemical Complex (Foreign Trade of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, February 1994)

	Updated April 2003

Key Sources:
FBIS Report, "DPRK's Sinhung Chemical Complex Profiled," 18 January 2001, in FBIS Document KPP20010118000112; Chang Chun Ik, Pukhan Haek-Missile Chŏnjaeng, (Seoul: Sŏmundang, 1999), p. 460; Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., The Armed Forces of North Korea (New York: I. B. Tauris Publishers, 2001), p. 225.