ED Red flag on nuclear wastewater

This imagery released in 2019 by 38 North shows North Korea's uranium refining plant in Pyongsan, North Hwanghae Province, and a reservoir where toxic waste is sent. Courtesy of 38 North

North Korea is facing serious accusations of dumping toxic nuclear waste into the Ryesong River, which flows into the West Sea, raising alarm over potential health risks for South Koreans.

Cabinet ministries, including the Ministry of Unification and the Ministry of Environment, must urgently coordinate efforts to verify whether the claims, first raised by multiple media outlets, are factual. If confirmed, the government must take all possible measures to protect citizens from the potential public health disaster.

On June 12, local news outlet Daily NK published a shocking report alleging that North Korea has been discharging radioactive wastewater into the Ryesong River near its uranium refining facility in Pyongsan, North Hwanghae Province. The facility reportedly processes coal into uranium for use in nuclear weapons production.

Historically, nuclear waste generated at the site had been collected in a nearby sedimentation reservoir. However, according to Daily NK, North Korea has since built drainage infrastructure to release uranium-contaminated water directly into rivers that flow southward to the West Sea.

“Satellite imagery has captured evidence that, as the sedimentation pond reached capacity, North Korea began discharging wastewater directly into the river,” the report stated.

Following the report, a wave of additional media coverage has emerged, amplifying concerns about the North dumping of toxic water into Ryesong River, which eventually flows into the West Sea near South Korea’s Ganghwa Island.

On Wednesday, acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho was questioned during a National Assembly session. Rep. Han Ki-ho of the opposition People Power Party (PPP) urged the Ministry of National Defense to conduct an immediate investigation, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

“This is not just an environmental issue — it’s a matter of public health, sovereignty and the lives of our people,” Han said. He pointed to the proximity of the Pyongsan uranium facility to South Korean territory, noting that it is located just 100 kilometers from the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Area.

In response, Kim stated he could not yet verify the media reports but pledged to consult with relevant ministries. Meanwhile, Rep. Sung Il-jong, chairman of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, has requested that the defense ministry provide water quality test results for the Imjin River, which also flows southward from North Korea.

While lawmakers from the PPP have vocally condemned North Korea’s alleged release of radioactive wastewater, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has remained silent on the issue. This muted response stands in stark contrast to the DPK’s furious reaction to Japan’s discharge of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in August 2023.

At that time, then-DPK Chairman Lee Jae Myung — now the president — reacted with outrage to the Japanese government’s release, denouncing it as “nuclear waste.” He launched a hunger strike and accused Japan of violating the London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter. Lee also pledged to send protest letters to the 88 other signatory nations of the accord, urging them to join his campaign against Japan’s action.

However, the DPK has remained silent in the face of similar reports, this time about North Korea. Unlike the treated Fukushima water, which the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed met international safety standards, North Korea’s alleged discharge of untreated radioactive wastewater from its uranium refining facility in Pyongsan poses a potentially far greater health risk. If confirmed, such waste could contaminate rivers flowing into the West Sea, affecting South Korean waters and communities.

The dangers of radioactive waste are well known: Exposure can lead to cancer, genetic mutations and other serious long-term health problems. The DPK’s lack of response has sparked accusations of political hypocrisy — a stark example of partisan double standards when it comes to public health and environmental safety.

The Lee administration must act swiftly. The government should immediately investigate whether the media reports are accurate by conducting thorough water quality tests in potentially affected areas. Although the Ministry of Unification and other relevant agencies have so far expressed skepticism, citing a lack of evidence, this is not an issue that can be dismissed.

This is also not the first occurrence of North Korea allegedly dumping radioactive waste. Concerns have been raised periodically since the 2010s. Each time such a grave public health issue arises, the government is mandated to act transparently and urgently, ensuring the public is informed and protected.

Radioactive contamination is not a matter for partisan politics. The health and safety of the public must come before political considerations.