The North Korean Yongdeok-dong Nuclear Facility Monitored by South Korea and the US

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 4th that it is closely monitoring the activities at the nuclear facility following foreign media reports that North Korea has built a concealed structure at the entrance of the nuclear facility in Yongdeok-dong, Kusong-si, North Pyongan Province.

At a regular briefing on the same day, Ministry of National Defense Deputy Spokesperson Moon Hong-sik responded to related questions by saying, "We cannot confirm detailed developments regarding North Korea's nuclear facilities," but added, "South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies are closely watching activities related to North Korea's nuclear facilities."

Deputy Spokesperson Moon added, "Our government is making every effort, including close cooperation with the international community, to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

U.S. CNN reported on the 2nd (local time) that based on satellite images taken on the 11th of last month, North Korea has built a structure presumed to be for concealment at the entrance of the Yongdeok-dong facility, which appears to be a storage site for nuclear weapons.

It is reported that North Korea has conducted more than 140 high-explosive tests since the 1980s. A high-explosive test refers to a high-performance explosive experiment conducted just before a nuclear test to ensure the proper functioning of the nuclear weapon's detonation device. In particular, it is known that high-explosive tests were conducted in Yongdeok-dong, Kusong-si, located 40 km northwest of Yongbyon in North Pyongan Province.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.