[Buried Radiation Exposure]② 'Twice Fukushima' Detected... Ministry of Unification Alters Interpretation

"Double Detection of Fukushima Radiation Exposure in Japan, Yet 'Uncertain'"
Tepid Response... Is North Korea's Participation in Pyeongchang Olympics to Blame?
Ministry of Unification Changes Stance with Regime... "Urgent Testing Needed"

Editor's NoteThe ultimate goal of North Korea, which plunges the Korean Peninsula into security anxiety, is to be recognized as a 'nuclear-armed state.' However, in this process, residents are suffering from unexplained illnesses. There are also concerns that radioactive materials from the nuclear test site could threaten the Korean Peninsula. It is the nation's responsibility to verify and prepare for this. This article highlights that North Korea's nuclear issue is not only a security matter but also a human rights issue, and explores the government's tasks.

The Ministry of Unification is being criticized for not taking appropriate measures during the Moon Jae-in administration despite being aware of concerns about radioactive material leakage from the 'Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site.' This is because traces of radiation exposure equivalent to those of 'nuclear power plant accident site workers' were found in tests conducted on North Korean defectors from the Kilju County area in North Hamgyong Province, but the response remained lukewarm.

On the 8th, the Ministry of Unification announced plans to conduct a full survey targeting defectors from Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province, and nearby areas, where radiation exposure is a concern. A ministry official explained, "At this point, only basic policies have been established, but we will try to start the investigation within the first half of the year," adding, "We plan to request the tests be conducted by specialized institutions and think there will be opportunities to gather opinions from related (North Korean human rights) organizations."

More than twice the level during Japan's Fukushima... but concluded as "uncertain"

The Ministry of Unification had already conducted radiation exposure tests on defectors twice, in 2017 and 2018. In the 2017 test, 30 people participated, and abnormal levels were detected in 4 of them. The lowest was 279 mGy, and the highest measured was 394 mGy. Here, the unit mGy (milligray) refers to the 'absorbed dose,' indicating how much radioactive material has entered the body. For the general public, the distribution is about 5 to 7 mGy if only living daily life.

The 2018 results were even more serious. Abnormal levels were found in 5 out of 10 tested individuals, accounting for half. Notably, one woman showed a level as high as 1386 mGy. This exceeds more than twice the radiation exposure of workers involved in the cleanup of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan. The other 4 showed levels ranging from 279 mGy to 493 mGy. A full-body CT scan typically measures around 10 mGy at most. This highlights how severe the test results were for defectors from Kilju County who underwent radiation exposure testing.

Despite remarkable abnormal levels detected in this 'small-scale' investigation over two years, the Ministry of Unification stated that it cannot definitively link the findings to nuclear tests. The subsequent explanation was that "radiation exposure could be a cause, but confounding variables such as smoking history cannot be ruled out." This ambiguous stance, neither fully acknowledging nor denying radiation exposure, and selectively drawing conclusions, is why criticism has arisen.

Professor Seo Kyun-ryeol of Seoul National University’s Department of Nuclear Engineering, former vice president of the Korean Nuclear Society, declared the test results presented to this publication as "absurd." Professor Seo said, "1000 mGy far exceeds the level that could be explained by confounding variables," adding, "These levels urgently require medical intervention, so discussing confounding variables is completely worthless."

After passive explanations... Kim Jong-un expresses "hope to participate in PyeongChang Olympics"

From the right, Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, former President Moon Jae-in, and Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of Korea / Photo by Korea Joint Press Corps

It was not just the tests and evaluations that were inadequate. When the first test results were announced, the government's attitude raised suspicions that it deliberately denied concerns about radioactive material leakage. On December 27, 2017, the Ministry of Unification explained the first radiation exposure test results to the press corps in a back-briefing format. Instead of fully disclosing all results, only the 4 individuals with 'abnormal levels' were selectively revealed.

The Moon Jae-in administration, which maintained a conciliatory stance toward North Korea, announced the radiation exposure test results cautiously, and five days later, on January 1, 2018, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un issued a New Year's address expressing his "hope to participate in the PyeongChang Olympics." Considering that inter-Korean exchanges generally require prior behind-the-scenes work between authorities, this can be interpreted as a politically motivated choice rather than a coincidence.

The 2018 investigation was also problematic. Although the Ministry of Unification maintains that it "did not hide and disclosed the results," it did not announce them until after a parliamentary request for data submission. Particularly, regarding the radiation exposure test, which requires long-term follow-up on multiple subjects, only 10 people were tested. The ministry explained that it was difficult to find defectors willing to undergo testing. However, within the defector community, it is hard to find anyone who was reluctant to be tested.

Moreover, there is evidence that the number of test subjects was reduced from 30 to 20, and then further cut to 10. The Ministry of Unification denies this, but the 2018 standard service contract obtained by this publication specifies "within 20 people" for the number of test subjects. The cost was set at 1,586,000 KRW per person, with a contract amount exactly corresponding to 20 people, totaling 31,720,000 KRW. The actual amount paid later was confirmed to be about 19,000,000 KRW.

Position changes with administrations... Moon "No evidence" → Yoon "Concerns"

Follow-up measures are also problematic. There is disagreement between parties on whether defectors with abnormal levels were properly informed of their test results and whether necessary measures were taken. Some defectors who underwent testing, contacted through interviews by Asia Economy, claim that they "did not receive explanations or treatment guidance regarding the test results from the Ministry of Unification."

On the other hand, a Ministry of Unification official rebutted, saying, "The testing agency sent the test results to the individuals and explained the results by phone, also guiding necessary follow-up measures." What is certain is that the government did not directly support treatment or connect individuals to necessary medical care. The only action was to 'recommend' that defectors with abnormal findings (4 in 2017, 5 in 2018) receive regular health checkups.

The Ministry of Unification, which consistently took a passive stance on the possibility of radioactive material leakage, reversed its position after the administration changed. During the Moon Jae-in government, it stated, "Since North Korea conducts nuclear tests underground, it is difficult to reasonably infer the risks to us," and expressed regret over "baseless claims being raised and spread," but after five years, it has announced plans for a full survey again.

An anonymous expert in the nuclear science community confessed, "In academia, the approach to nuclear phase-out issues and radioactive material problems changes with each administration, making it difficult to publicly point out risks." He urged, "At least it is clear that the test results of defectors are serious. If damage begins to be confirmed in South Korea later, it will already be too late. We must urgently test as many people as possible and accumulate data."