National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee Comprehensive Audit... Questions to Minister of Unification
Concerns Over Radioactive Material Leakage at North Korea's Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site
"Judgments Biased During Moon Administration, Civilian Monitoring Needed"
Kim Young-ho "Results of Full Inspection Will Be Shared with Civilians"
Rep. Taeyoungho of the People Power Party urged the Ministry of Unification to publicly disclose and share the results of the comprehensive radiation exposure tests on North Korean defectors being conducted amid concerns that radioactive materials leaked from North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site could spread to hundreds of thousands of residents. He called for an objective conclusion to be drawn so that interpretations would not be distorted according to the regime's North Korea policy.
On the 27th, during the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's comprehensive audit, Rep. Tae criticized, "While public concern over Japan's Fukushima nuclear contaminated water issue is growing significantly in South Korea, the evaluation of the radiation exposure situation at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site, which is right at our doorstep, fluctuates every time the government changes."
He then presented a report from Asia Economy and questioned Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho, "Are you aware that during the Moon Jae-in administration, the Ministry of Unification released opinions through some scientists claiming that the Punggye-ri nuclear test site was safe?" He added, "The problem is that after the regime changed, when asked whether there was any reason not to worry, no one responded to interviews. Everyone disappeared," he criticized.
Earlier, in February, based on a special report released by the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), a human rights investigation organization, this outlet reported the risk that radioactive materials leaked from the Punggye-ri nuclear test site could spread to hundreds of thousands of residents in the area through groundwater and other mediums. During the investigation, it was revealed that the Ministry of Unification under the Moon Jae-in government dismissed concerns about radioactive materials as "baseless claims," citing experts from government-funded research institutions. However, after the Yoon Seok-yeol government took office, the Ministry reversed its stance, acknowledged radiation exposure concerns, and announced a policy of "comprehensive testing."
Rep. Tae also presented the 2018 radiation exposure test results on North Korean defectors conducted by the Ministry of Unification under the previous government, which had concluded there was no problem citing "disruptive variables." He pointed out, "(The lowest measured abnormal value) was 279 mGy," adding, "Internationally, 200 to 300 mGy is considered highly dangerous." He continued, "One woman at the time showed a reading of 1386 mGy," and criticized, "When a nuclear power plant accident occurs, being at the accident site for about an hour results in 1000 mGy exposure. Yet, during the Moon Jae-in administration, the Ministry of Unification claimed it was beneficial (safe)."
The unit mGy (milligray) indicates the 'absorbed dose,' showing how much radioactive material has entered the body. In daily life, the distribution is usually no higher than 5 mGy, and exposure from CT scans can increase it to 10-50 mGy.
Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho acknowledged awareness of these issues, and Rep. Taeyoungho urged, "To prevent the Yoon Seok-yeol government's Ministry of Unification from repeating the same mistakes, the reinvestigation should be conducted in a way that allows civilian participation and oversight." In response, Minister Kim said, "Although investigations were halted after 2017-2018, under the Yoon Seok-yeol government, we are conducting comprehensive surveys of defectors from the Punggye-ri area," adding, "We have examined about 80 people this year, and once the results are available, we will disclose them to civilian organizations," he promised.
Confluence point of surface water around the Punggye-ri nuclear test site [Photo by Jeon Hwan-gi, Justice Working Group (TJWG)]
According to this outlet's comprehensive investigation, residents from the Punggye-ri area have suffered from unexplained illnesses but have not received accurate diagnoses or treatment, leading to the condition being called 'Gwisinbyeong (Ghost Disease).' The symptoms experienced by these residents?such as unexplained indigestion, cancer diagnoses, headaches, vision loss, and birth defects?largely correspond to typical symptoms that appear first after radiation exposure.
The North Korean authorities have consistently maintained the claim that "there has been no radioactive material leakage." However, during interviews, defectors from the Punggye-ri area stated that the authorities have strictly prohibited residents from traveling to Pyongyang. It was also confirmed that, based on North Korean state media reports, there has been no record of Chairman Kim Jong-un visiting the Punggye-ri region.
The Ministry of Unification announced a comprehensive testing policy in the first half of this year and is currently conducting tests on 89 defectors from the Punggye-ri area through the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences. The first test results are scheduled to be announced around the end of the year, with plans to continue sequential comprehensive testing next year.
Rep. Tae emphasized, "The government must provide an objective evaluation regarding concerns about radioactive material leakage from the Punggye-ri nuclear test site," and repeatedly urged, "Please ensure that even scientists do not waver according to the regime or release results that are 'tailored' to political codes."
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