Kumchon Uranium Mine
| Other Name: | 금천광산; Wŏl'am Mine (월암광산); Wolam Mine; Kŭmch'ŏn Wŏl'am Mine (금천월암광산); Wolbingson Mine; Wŏlbingsan Mine; Kŭmch'ŏn Uranium Mine |
|---|---|
| Location: | Kŭmch'ŏn-kun (금천군), North Hwanghae Province (황해북도), North Korea |
| Subordinate To: | Ministry of Extractive Industries (채취공업성), Cabinet (내각) |
| Size: | Unknown |
| Facility Status: | Unknown |
The uranium ore extracted from the Kŭmch'ŏn Uranium Mine is reportedly shipped to the Namch'ŏn Chemical Complex (남천화학연합기업소) in P'yŏngsan-kun for processing into yellow cake (U3O8) or uranium dioxide (U02). The ore extracted from this mine is called "ore number three (3호 광석)." Defector Kim Tae Ho claims that "ore number three" has a uranium content of 0.8 percent, a vanadium content of 1.4%, and other rare metals such as nickel, molybdenum and radium.
Sources:
[1] Lee Yong U, "'Uranium T'amsa Tŭng Haekkaebal Hyŏl'an'/Pukhansŏ Kwisunhan 3 Myŏng Kijahwoegyŏn," Segye Ilbo, 10 May 1994, p. 26, in KINDS, www.kinds.or.kr.
[2] Son Sŏng Jin, "Pyongyang Uranium Kongjang Ch'ulshin T'alch'ulja Kim Tae Ho Ssi Chŭng'ŏn," Taehan Maeil, 13 May 1994, p. 5, in KINDS, www.kinds.or.kr.
[3] Osamu Eya, Kimu Jon Iru Daizukan (Tokyo: Shogakkan, 2000), pp. 64-65.
[4] Ch'oe Maeng Ho, "Puk Haekkaebal Ŏnŭsujun'in'ga/IAEA Sach'allo Palghyŏjin Shilt'ae (Ch'ojŏm)," Donga Ilbo, 11 June 1992, p. 3, in KINDS, www.kinds.or.kr.
[5] "Kit'a Pukhanŭi Haekkaebal Kwallyŏn Naeyong," Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, www.kaeri.re.kr.
[6] Kim Tae Ho, Watashiga Mita Kitachosen Kakukojono Shinjitsu, (Tokyo: Tokuma Shoten, 2003) pp. 19-29.
[7] "Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Exposing North Korea's Nuclear Infrastructure-Part One," Jane's Intelligence Review, 1 February 1999 p. 38.
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, or agents. Copyright © 2011 by MIIS.
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