25.06.30.Today News : Suspicions Grow Over North Korea's Radioactive Waste Dumping Near South Korean Waters

Suspicions Grow Over North Korea's Radioactive Waste Dumping Near South Korean Waters

• Experts and government say no signs of contamination, but public anxiety persists over potential fallout

Concerns are mounting over allegations that North Korea is discharging radioactive wastewater from its Pyongsan uranium processing facility into nearby rivers. The wastewater could potentially reach South Korea’s Imjin and Han Rivers, raising fears of environmental contamination in the West Sea and coastal areas like Ganghwa Island.

A uranium refining facility in Pyongsan County, Hamgyong Province, North Korea, is suspected of unauthorized discharge of radioactive wastewater.

Recent reports and satellite analyses by North Korea-focused media outlets suggest that North Korea has constructed drainage channels near its Pyongsan uranium refinery to release radioactive wastewater, allegedly due to overflow at a nearby sediment pond. These claims are gaining traction on social media, despite government denials.

South Korea’s Ministry of Unification and environmental agencies have stated that no unusual activity has been detected at the site, and that radiation and chemical monitoring in rivers and coastal waters has revealed no signs of contamination.

“South Korea has a robust nationwide radiation monitoring network,” said Prof. Kim Ki-hyun of Seoul National University’s Department of Nuclear Engineering. “Even though we mainly track iodine, cesium-137, and tritium, we would still detect any unusual levels of other radioactive substances such as uranium.”

Prof. Jung Beom-jin of Kyunghee University added that radiation monitoring data is publicly accessible and cannot be easily manipulated by authorities.

Still, anxiety remains high. Experts warn that radioactive waste often includes toxic heavy metals and chemicals that could contaminate marine life, affecting the safety of fish and crab harvests in the region.

The Pyongsan uranium facility has operated since the mid-2000s and is believed to process approximately 360,000 tons of uranium ore annually, producing refined uranium, or “yellowcake,” which is used at enrichment sites like Yongbyon to produce highly enriched uranium (HEU). Estimates suggest that the facility could theoretically produce enough HEU for 20 nuclear weapons annually.

Despite the serious implications, South Korea’s current monitoring regime appears inadequate. The Ministry of Environment only tests river radiation levels twice a year and does not monitor downstream estuaries where such waste could accumulate.

Rep. Han Ki-ho of the People Power Party criticized the government, stating, “This is not just an environmental issue — it's about national sovereignty and survival. Pyongsan is only 100 kilometers from the capital region.”

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission acknowledged that inter-agency discussions are underway to strengthen countermeasures but maintained that current safety levels remain within acceptable limits.

One-line summary : Allegations have surfaced that North Korea is discharging radioactive wastewater into rivers, but the South Korean government reports no signs of contamination so far.