Ministry of Unification Conducts Full Radiation Screening for Defectors... "Water Sources Also Investigated"

Groundwater Near Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site... "Possibility of Contamination"
Specialty Products Exposed to Radioactive Materials... Smuggling Between Korea, China, and Japan

The Ministry of Unification is set to begin a full-scale survey from the 15th targeting North Korean defectors to verify radiation exposure, and it has been confirmed for the first time that water sources suspected of contamination will also be investigated. This inspection comes amid concerns that radioactive materials released from the Punggye-ri nuclear test site could spread not only to residents but also to neighboring countries. In particular, since groundwater used as drinking water has been identified as a primary exposure route, the Ministry plans to address the 'water source issue' as well.

On the 14th, a government official stated, "The Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences will begin the first examination on the 15th to conduct radiation exposure tests," adding, "During the medical examination, a questionnaire survey will also confirm what kind of water sources were used while in North Korea." Although radiation exposure tests were conducted during the Moon Jae-in administration in 2017-2018, this is the first time the government has confirmed that water sources will be investigated.

The appearance of Punggye-ri Tunnel No. 4 before the explosion on May 25, 2018. / Photo by Joint Press Corps

The Ministry of Unification designated 796 defectors from Kilju County and nearby areas in North Hamgyong Province who fled after the first nuclear test in 2006 as the full survey target, and this year, 89 volunteers will be tested. Among them, 80 individuals selected based on recent entry order will undergo new radiation exposure tests at the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, while follow-up investigations will be conducted for 9 people who showed abnormal levels during the 2017-2018 tests.

According to the inspection plan (draft) obtained by this outlet, radiation exposure tests will include ▲whole-body counter tests ▲urine sample tests ▲stable chromosome aberration tests. The whole-body counter test measures gamma-emitting radionuclides inside the body through inhalation and ingestion, while the stable chromosome aberration test analyzes cumulative radiation dose. For those with abnormal findings, an additional 'unstable chromosome aberration test' will be conducted to analyze acute radiation dose at the time of overexposure.

The total budget allocated is 189 million KRW, of which 18 million KRW is set aside for additional tests (unstable chromosome aberration tests) covering 30 people. Considering that 9 out of 40 people (22.5%) tested during 2017-2018 showed abnormal levels, the Ministry of Unification’s expectation of abnormal findings in 30 out of 80 new examinees (37.5%) indicates the seriousness with which the ministry perceives and prepares for the issue.

It is also significant that the policy to investigate water sources was disclosed for the first time. Groundwater used by residents as drinking water is a likely exposure route but was never mentioned in past investigations. Professor Lee Soo-gon of the University of Seoul, who appeared before the National Assembly during the sixth nuclear test?the most powerful one?expressed concern, saying, "The continuous earthquakes after the nuclear test suggest ground fissures and radiation leaks," adding, "The scary thing is the groundwater. It is in an out-of-control state."

Mysterious Ghost Disease... Moon Administration "Cannot Conclusively Attribute to Nuclear Tests"

President Moon Jae-in and Chairman Kim Jong-un are holding hands after signing the Panmunjom Declaration at the Peace House in Panmunjom in September 2018. Photo by Joint Press Corps

As concerns about radioactive material leakage after the sixth nuclear test grew, the Moon Jae-in administration conducted two rounds of radiation exposure tests on North Korean defectors in 2017-2018. However, issues were raised about the inadequacy of the investigation itself, and criticisms followed that appropriate measures were not taken amid a conciliatory stance toward North Korea.

In the 2017 test, abnormal levels were detected in 4 out of 30 examinees. The levels ranged between 279 and 394 mGy, where mGy (milligray) is a unit indicating the 'absorbed dose' of radioactive material inside the body. For the general public, daily exposure typically ranges around 5 mGy. In the 2018 test, half of the 10 examinees showed abnormal levels. Notably, one woman had a detected level of 1386 mGy, far exceeding the exposure of workers involved in the cleanup of the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan. The other 4 showed levels between 279 and 493 mGy. Considering that even a full-body CT scan typically detects around 10 mGy at most, these results highlight the severity of the findings.

However, the Moon administration did not acknowledge a connection between North Korea’s nuclear tests and the unusual exposure levels, citing that "confounding variables such as smoking history cannot be excluded." Furthermore, when the first test results were announced in December 2017, only limited disclosure was made for 4 out of 30 examinees, and less than a week later, Kim Jong-un issued a New Year's address expressing a desire to participate in the PyeongChang Olympics. This has led to suspicions that the radiation exposure tests, which North Korea might have considered sensitive, were handled passively for political reasons. A nuclear physics expert criticized, "1000 mGy far exceeds levels that could be explained by confounding variables," adding, "Discussing confounding variables when immediate medical intervention is warranted is utterly meaningless."

South Korea Cannot Be Assured of Safety Either... Ministry of Unification "Will Conduct Thorough Verification"

Confluence point of surface water around the Punggye-ri nuclear test site
[Photo by Jeon Hwan-gi Justice Working Group]

After government-level verification efforts failed, the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), a human rights investigation organization, tracked and investigated concerns over the spread of radioactive materials through groundwater to residents for four years, releasing a special report to the international community in February this year. As concerns arose about residents’ radiation exposure through water and potential harm to neighboring countries, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration announced plans for a full-scale survey.

The urgency of the full survey stems from the identification of 'water' as the pathway for radioactive material spread. If radioactive materials leaked from North Korea’s nuclear test site contaminated groundwater, agricultural and marine products grown in the Kilju County area would also likely be contaminated. In this case, North Korean specialty products such as 'Chilbosan pine mushrooms' could be smuggled and distributed as Chinese products, affecting South Korea, China, and Japan?all within the affected zones.

An official from the Ministry of Unification evaluated the previous government’s tests, saying, "There was no control group, the sample size was small, and there was a lack of information on confounding variables, making it difficult to generalize the results." The official added, "We decided to conduct a comprehensive re-investigation to completely dispel the raised concerns and will do our best to ensure transparent verification."

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