NK leader's nuclear energy remark triggers questions

Satellite imagery of North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear testing site on Feb. 11, 2018. / 38 North website

By Kim Bo-eun

Questions are being raised about North Korea's development of nuclear power for energy purposes, after its leader made a reference during his New Year address.

Kim Jong-un mentioned nuclear energy, along with others including tidal, wind and hydroelectric power, as a means to boost the country's electricity supply.

Regarding the remark, Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said “there is a need to focus on what this would mean in denuclearization talks.” The remarks came during an interview with local broadcaster KBS.

Cho referred to a joint statement issued in September 2005 by six nations that were members of North Korea's denuclearization talks.

“There is a part that guarantees North Korea's peaceful use of nuclear energy according to progress on the nuclear issue,” he said. “It is (the South Korean government's) stance that we should discuss the issue of the North's nuclear power generation or peaceful use of nukes after progress is made on denuclearization.”

The statement says “North Korea stated it has the right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The other parties expressed their respect and agreed to discuss at an appropriate time the subject of the provision of light-water reactor to North Korea.”

There is speculation that the North Korean leader's remarks on nuclear energy may be a prelude to possible claims that a light water reactor that is known to be under construction at Yongbyon, and uranium enrichment facilities to supply fuel for the reactor are unrelated to the development of nuclear weapons.

There were reports last year of progress on North Korea's experimental light water reactor at Yongbyon. It is known to have been under construction since 2010.

The reference to nuclear energy comes at a time denuclearization talks between North Korea and the U.S. have failed to make progress over the past year, despite the North Korean leader's pledge to work toward this goal. Pyongyang claimed it dismantled facilities at its Punggye-ri nuclear and Tongchang-ri missile testing sites but these measures have yet to be verified.