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P'yŏngsan Uranium Milling Facility

Other Name: 평산우라늄제련시설; Namch'ŏn Chemical Complex (남천화학연합기업소); P'yŏngsan Uranium Refining Intermediate Plant (평산우라늄광석중간공장); Chemical Factory (화학공장); P'yŏngsan Uranium Production Factory (평산우라늄생산공장); Namch'ŏn Joint Chemical Enterprise
Location: P'yŏnghwa-ri (평화리), P'yŏngsan-kun (평산군), North Hwanghae Province (황해북도), North Korea
Subordinate To: Namch'ŏn Chemical Complex (남천화학연합기업소), General Department of Atomic Energy (원자력총국), Cabinet (내각)
Size: About 1,500 workers; as of 1999, a capacity to process 200,000 tons of uranium ore into of 290 tons of yellow cake per year
Facility Status: Unknown

The P'yŏngsan Uranium Milling Facility reportedly produces yellow cake, and is one of eleven factories operated by the Namch'ŏn Chemical Complex. According to defector Kim Tae Ho, this facility became operational in June 1991. However, there are also reports that it became operational in 1990, or even in the 1980s. [Note: Reports of this facility becoming operational in the 1980s are not reliable.] During a press conference in April 1992, an official from the North Korean Ministry of Atomic Energy Industry confirmed that North Korea was operating uranium milling facilities in Pyŏngsan-kun and Pakch'ŏn-kun. This facility is said to process uranium ore from the P'yŏngsan and Kŭmch'ŏn uranium mines.

Sources:
[1] "Pukhanŭi Haekkaebal Kujo Mit Ŭiji," Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, www.kaeri.re.kr.
[2] Kim Pyŏng Ku, et al., Pukhaekkisulch'ongsŏ-I (Taejŏn: Technology Center for Nuclear Control, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, November 1999), www.tcnc.kaeri.re.kr.
[3] 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.
[4] "Sabyŏng Pokmudanch'uk Kŏmt'o: Lee Kukbang Pangwibyŏngjedo Kaesŏndŭng P'oham," Hankuk Ilbo, 13 May 1999, p. 2, in KINDS, www.kinds.or.kr.
[5] Mun Ch'ang Jae, "Puk, Yŏngbyŏnwŏnjaro Modu 5 Kae: Wŏnjaryŏk Kanbu," Hankuk Ilbo, 15 April 1992, p. 1, in KINDS, www.kinds.or.kr.
[6] 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.
[7] North Korea Yearbook 2002 (Seoul: Yonhap News Agency, 2001) Chapter 8.
[8] Kim Yŏng Shik, "Puk Choch'ongryŏn'giŏp Taebubun Choŏp Chungdan Sangt'ae," Segye Ilbo, 11 March 1999, p. 22, in KINDS, www.kinds.or.kr.
Osamu Eya, Kimu Jon Iru Daizukan (Tokyo: Shogakkan, 2000), p. 64; Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "North Korea's Nuclear Infrastructure," Jane's Intelligence Review, 1 February 1994, p. 75.

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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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