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South Korea to Launch Special Inspection Over North Korea Nuclear Wastewater Claims

By The South Asia Times

SEOUL - The South Korean government will begin a joint special inspection on Friday in response to ongoing allegations that North Korea has discharged radioactive wastewater from its Pyongsan nuclear facility—claims Seoul has previously dismissed as unsubstantiated.

According to a press release issued Thursday by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, the decision follows a meeting among relevant ministries to address the online allegations.

The concerns were sparked by satellite analyst Jeong Seong-hak, who cited U.S. Environmental Systems Research Institute imagery to suggest that contaminated water from the Pyongsan plant may have reached waters near Ganghwa Island, located near the mouth of North Korea’s Ryesong River.

The inspection will be led by the Ministry of Unification, in coordination with the Ministries of Oceans and Fisheries and Environment. Testing will focus on ten key locations, including Ganghwa Island.

Authorities plan to test for radioactive elements such as uranium and cesium, as well as heavy metal contamination. The analysis is expected to take approximately two weeks, after which the government has pledged to release the findings transparently.