Location: Kangnam-kun (江南郡), Pyongyang (平壤市), North Korea

Subordinate to: Academy of Sciences (科學院), Cabinet (內閣) [Note: North Korea's Academy of Sciences (科學院) was founded in December 1952. The Academy's name was officially changed to the “National Academy of Sciences (國家科學院)” in 1994, but the name was changed back to the “Academy of Sciences” in 1998].

Size: Over 120 subsidiary Microbial fertilizer factories nationwide

Primary Function: Research, development and production of microbial-based fertilizer supplements; supply of microbial stock to branch compound microbial fertilizer factories

Description: The Aeguk Compound Microbe Center was founded in June 1997 pursuant to Kim Jong Il’s orders for the creation of microbial fertilizers suitable for North Korea’s geographical conditions. Any connections to the North Korean BW program are unclear, but the center was built with assistance from Choch’ongnyŏn (Chosen Soren), the pro-North Korea General Association of Korean Residents in Japan. Almost all facilities with the designation “Aeguk (愛國)” have been established with assistance from overseas pro-North Korean residents. The facility was expanded in April 1999 when the Compound Microbe Technical Research Station was established. The Aeguk Compound Microbe Center produces microbial stock (原菌) in a liquid solution, and supplies the stock to compound microbial fertilizer factories throughout the country, which in turn produce microbial-based fertilizer supplements. According to the Pyongyang Times, the Aeguk Compound Microbe Center also assists farms in applying compound fertilizer produced at these factories. There are reportedly over 120 compound microbial fertilizer factories (複合微生物肥料工場) in North Korea including the following:

• Chŏngju Aeguk Compound Microbial Fertilizer Factory
 (定州愛國複合微生物肥料工場): Chŏngju (定州市), North P’yŏng’an Province  (平安南道)
• Hamhŭng Aeguk Compound Microbial Fertilizer Factory (咸興愛國複合微生物肥料工場): Hamhŭng (咸興市), South Hamgyŏng Province (咸鏡南道)
• Hamju Aeguk Compound Microbial Fertilizer Factory (咸州愛國複合微生物肥料工場): Hamju-kun (咸州郡), South Hamgyŏng Province (咸鏡南道)
• Kae’p’ung Compound Microbial Fertilizer Factory (開豊愛國複合微生物肥料工場): Kae’p'ung-kun (開豊郡), Kaesŏng (開城市)
• Kwaksan Aeguk Compound Microbial Fertilizer Factory (郭山愛國複合微生物肥料工場): Kwaksan-kun (郭山郡), North P’yong’an Province (平安北道)
• P’anmun Aeguk Compound Microbial Fertilizer Factory (板門愛國複合微生物肥料工場): P’anmun-kun (板門郡), Kaesŏng (開城市)
• Man’gyŏngdae Aeguk Compound Microbial Fertilizer Factory (萬景臺愛國複合微生物肥料工場): Man’gyŏngdae-kuyŏk (萬景臺區域), Pyongyang (平壤市)

As of 2000, the chief of the Aeguk Compound Microbe Center was Kim Ung Ho, who was also chairman of the DPRK Invention Committee. 

An August 1999 issue of Choson included a photograph of the main buildings exterior.

An August 1999 issue of Choson shows fermentation and growth media containers for effective microorganisms (EM).

	Updated August 2003

Key Sources:
“Aeguk Compound Microbe Center Cited for Agricultural Role,” 11 February 2000, FBIS Document ID: KPP20000211000100; “DPRK Microbial Fertilizer Factories Reported,” 13 March 2000, FBIS Document ID: KPP20000313000104; “DPRK’s NAS Pursues Cultivation of Stock Bacteria for Microbial Fertilizers,” Chungang Ilbo (sic), 17 January 2000, in “DPRK Developing Compound Fertiliz (sic),” FBIS Document ID: FTS2000120000144; Chŏn Chu Shik, “Pukhan Kwahag’wŏn, Nong’ŏp-kŏnch’uk Tŭng Yŏn’gu Sŏnggwa Pal’p’yo,” Segye Ilbo, 14 March 2000, p. 16, in KINDS, <http://www.kinds.or.kr>.