Attention is being paid to North Korea’s recent claim that the impoverished country succeeded in producing a nuclear fusion reaction. The Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on May 12th that scientists of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea successfully created a nuclear fusion reaction. Carried by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency, the report added that the success is a great breakthrough demonstrating the nation’s advanced science and technology. The newspaper also said the nation achieved the success completely on its own. Three days later, the newspaper reiterated its claim of having developed nuclear fusion technology. However, a senior South Korean official says the claim is simply preposterous, since nuclear fusion technology requires costly facilities and it’s far from easy to build such facilities secretly. But researcher Jeon Seong-hun at the Korea Institute for National Unification does not rule out the possibility that North Korea may have conducted research on a rudimentary level or carried out a relevant experiment.
Commercialization of nuclear fusion technology requires different scientific and economic substructures at the national level. Given the poor state of infrastructure in North Korea, the claim may be considered nonsense. But as far as regime maintenance is concerned, North Korea has been willing to sacrifice anything, as seen in its nuclear development. In this sense, we can’t just snub North Korea’s recent announcement. Some say it does not deserve even a passing notice, but I don’t think so. Even though the North hasn’t reached the perfect level of nuclear fusion technology that Western countries consider, it is definitely struggling to come close to the level. In the course of doing so, North Korea may have produced certain outcomes, though only at the elementary level.
Nuclear fusion of deuterium and tritium, also known as Hydrogen-3, creates a large amount of energy, just like the sun emitting the huge amount of light and heat. The fusion reaction starts at around 100 million degrees. No country has ever succeeded in cultivating nuclear fusion reaction technology for commercial use. South Korea was successful in creating a nuclear fusion reaction at its experimental reactor on two occasions in 2008 and 2009. The problem is that this technology could be used for producing fusion-based nuclear weapons, such as a hydrogen bomb. It doesn’t seem that North Korea is close to developing this type of bomb. By demonstrating its determination to push for nuclear fusion, however, North Korea clearly expresses its willingness to continue to improve its nuclear weapons technology. Diplomatic experts are noting that the North’s announcement came right after North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s recent visit to China.
North Korea explains that nuclear fusion technology is aimed at the peaceful use of nuclear energy, defining it as clear evidence of the development of the nation’s science and technology industries. Of course, nuclear technology can be used for peaceful purposes, but it might be easily diverted to military ends. When countries like North Korea, which went as far as violating the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in order to develop nuclear weapons, made such an announcement, we’re more concerned about the possibility of the misuse of the technology for military purposes rather than taking it in a favorable sense. It is China that will be most disturbed by the announcement. Beijing has strongly opposed North Korea’s nuclear test and even approved a UN resolution imposing sanctions against the North, although it has continued to assist the North Korean regime. North Korea made an announcement that could offend Beijing right after Kim Jong-il returned home from China. This is considered an indirect signal indicating that the North Korea-China summit or Kim’s trip to China was not quite satisfactory.
Regarding North Korea’s intentions, interpretations vary. Some speculate that North Korea is using nuclear fusion as a new negotiation card in a bid to steer the development of the Cheonan case to its own favor. They consider a possibility that Pyongyang may announce an additional measure aimed at stoking tensions in the region, such as conducting a third nuclear test, in order to turn the situation around. Others say North Korea is trying to grab international attention in regards to the resumption of the six-party nuclear talks. So then, how will the North’s recent announcement influence the future nuclear negotiations?
The six-party talks, when resumed, will inevitably touch on the issue of North Korea’s nuclear fusion. That is, another serious topic will be added to the agenda items, which will pose a significant burden on the multilateral talks. Previously, North Korea said that it would build and operate its own light water reactor and that it was in the process of developing enriched uranium. This, too, will be another sticking point barring a breakthrough in the nuclear crisis. We have to keep an eye on any developments surrounding North Korea’s nuclear fusion claim, but it’s obvious that one or two more problems have been added to the already complicated nuclear negotiations.
Meanwhile, the United States is skeptical about North Korea’s nuclear fusion claims. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said on May 12th that the U.S. would not dissuade people who are skeptical of Pyongyang’s claim, reflecting that Washington gives little credence to the North’s assertion. But China has a different view. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a regular briefing on May 13th that China was monitoring relevant reports, while the nation’s state-run media outlets, including the Global Times, showed an unusually strong stance toward North Korea, saying the North must stop its nuclear game. Also, China has issued a series of grim forecasts that Pyongyang’s latest claim will have an adverse impact on the Korean Peninsula and the international community. Similarly, Mr. Jeon predicts it will negatively affect not only relations between North Korea and China but also future inter-Korean ties.
Under its nuclear strategy, North Korea is developing nuclear weapons on one hand, while stressing the peaceful use of nuclear energy on the other hand. In this context, Pyongyang demands that South and North Korea be treated equally. That is, North Korea takes issue with the South’s nuclear development; South Korea is allowed to seek the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and why not North Korea? In this way, the North continues to get the South involved in the controversy over nuclear development. Pyongyang’s nuclear strategy, as seen in its recent claim to have developed nuclear fusion technology, is putting a burden on Seoul’s policies governing its own nuclear power development and relations with North Korea.
North Korea’s announcement on its successful nuclear fusion is emerging as another factor that could influence the diplomatic stalemate in this part of the world. Both South and North Korea should take a more flexible and forward-looking attitude in order to resolve the nuclear issue without causing any further conflict.
[Interview] ‘Free North Korea Radio’ Marks Sixth Anniversary of Foundation
At a building in Gayang-dong in the Gangseo District, western Seoul, a radio station is airing a program. Interestingly, this radio program is not for South Korean audiences, but for North Korean citizens. The broadcaster is Free North Korea Radio, which is run by defectors from North Korea. A special event took place here on April 20th. Directors of 30 defector-related local organizations got together for the first time to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the radio station’s foundation. Kim Seong-min, a representative of Free North Korea Radio, expresses his impressions of the commemorative occasion.
Six years have passed since Free North Korea Radio was launched. Many people came here to celebrate the anniversary and promised to carry out more activities in the future. I’m filled with emotion as I look back on the past. We’re ready to overcome any difficulties, as the radio station has done since its inception. Marking the sixth anniversary, we shared joy with many people. The radio station has taken a firm root as a hub for local defector groups, both in name and reality.
Kim studied poetry in college in North Korea. He worked as a writer in the military before defecting to South Korea via China in 1996. While being transported to Pyongyang after he was arrested by a North Korean security agent in China, Kim jumped off a running train to avoid a public execution. After resettling in South Korea, he founded this radio station to let North Korean residents know the broader outside world and the reality of the reclusive state. The radio transmits a variety of programs for five hours a day through shortwave broadcasts and the Internet.
We inform North Korean citizens of what is really happening in South Korea and in the international community. We’re focused mainly on news programs. North Korea-related news stories, collected from defector groups, non-governmental organizations and South Korean newspapers, are transmitted to North Korea. Some programs feature directors of defector groups, and a 15-minute interview with North Korean newcomers is aired every day. Other programs include “Drama World” and “Maze of Music,” which introduces trot music.
Currently, nine employees are participating in program production. The staff includes those who engaged in propaganda activities in North Korea and defectors simply hoping to take part in broadcasting work. Kim says it’s most rewarding for him to deliver hope to his fellow North Koreans across the border through broadcasting, together with his colleagues who share the same view with him. Unfortunately, he frequently can’t pay the employees on time, due to the tight budget that comes entirely from donations. Sometimes, he was subject to threats to stop broadcasting. How has he been able to maintain this radio station for the last six years, despite all these difficulties?
We regard ourselves as not so much writers or reporters as activists fighting for North Korea’s democracy. We have encouraged each other so far, in the hope of returning home as soon as possible. We’re also proud of doing something only defectors can do in a divided Korea. Thanks to deep love for our homeland and immense pride in our work, we have been able to lead this radio station.
According to correspondents in North Korea, local citizens listen to broadcasts from South Korea secretly and some of them have now become enthusiastic fans. Today, as always, Kim is doing his work vigorously, keenly aware of the fact that the voices from South Korea are giving great strength to North Korean people.
International groups, including those in the U.S. and “Reporters without Borders,” have sponsored us. But the support programs are not constant. The three-year programs have helped us to stand on our own two feet thus far. We’re making our own efforts to accomplish that purpose; we’re developing and selling various programs and contents. Our unwavering goal is to help North Korean citizens recognize their reality and to enlighten them until the day we come back home with the spirit of liberal democracy. And we’re performing our roles in an honest and sincere way.
Kim hopes to help even a single North Korean learn about the outside world through his radio programs. Hopefully, Free North Korea Radio will continue broadcasting until the day of unification.