Amid media reports indicating North Korea is building a light-water reactor at the Yongybyon nuclear facility, keen attention is being paid to North Korea’s true intentions. According to Japan’s Kyodo News Agency on November 13, American nuclear scientist Siegfried Hecker told reporters in Beijing that he heard from Pyongyang officials in North Korea that the North was constructing a light-water nuclear reactor that could generate 25-30 megawatts of electricity. Hecker said the construction had just begun and that it would take several years to compete the reactor. Earlier, in late September, the U.S.-based Institute for Science and International Security revealed a satellite image of the nuclear site in Yongbyon and said that North Korea seemed to be constructing a new building or doing excavation work in the area. However, Baek Seung-ju from the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses says there is slim possibility that North Korea is actually building a nuclear reactor.

A coolant is necessary for activating a nuclear reactor. Distilled water, known as light water H20, could be used as a coolant. A light-water reactor uses the distilled water in its operation. When North Korea and the U.S. signed a nuclear agreement in Geneva in 1994, Pyongyang said it pursued nuclear development for the commercial use of nuclear energy and for electricity output, not for producing nuclear weapons. North Korea justified its construction of a light-water reactor in that way, which turned out to be false. North Korea’s nuclear development has since been focused on nuclear devices and weapons, not on a light-water reactor. Furthermore, Pyongyang conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. That is, North Korea lied about its nuclear weapons development to the U.S. and the international community. There are reports that North Korea is building a light-water reactor, but I think the likelihood is low, if past experience is any guide.

It wasn’t the first time that North Korea said it was constructing its own light-water reactor. In June last year, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution imposing sanctions against North Korea in the wake of the nation’s second nuclear test. After that, the North claimed that its uranium enrichment entered an experimental phase as the nation decided to construct its own light-water reactor. North Korea’s Rodong Shinmun, the mouthpiece of the Workers’ Party, announced in April this year that the nation would continue to bolster self-defense and the world would witness a new light-water reactor, built by 100 percent self-sufficient materials and technology and running strong. But South Korean experts have doubts as to whether North Korea is actually capable of building a nuclear reactor on its own, since construction of a light-water reactor requires high degree of technology possessed by advanced countries, such as the U.S.

South Korea won a massive contract to build nuclear power plants in the United Arab Emirates last year. It is also seeking to build atomic power plants in Turkey as well. South Korea’s self-sufficiency in construction and the operation of nuclear power plants stands at 95 percent. Construction of a light-water reactor and operation of a nuclear power plant require accumulated experience and expertise. It’s hard to say that North Korea has such a high level of technology and experience. Those who participated in the project of constructing nuclear reactors in North Korea say that the nation is not capable of building and running a nuclear power plant with a light-water reactor.

On the other hand, some speculate that North Korea may have developed the high degree of technology for constructing a light-water reactor and has tried its hand at producing nuclear materials through uranium enrichment as well as through the previous method of using plutonium. So, why did North Korea proclaim to the outside world that it was building a light-water reactor at this time? Experts interpret the move as Pyongyang’s intention to draw the U.S. to the dialogue table by demonstrating its determination to continue uranium enrichment, the crucial part of its controversial nuclear weapons development. At the same time, the North is showing off its nuclear capabilities to the participants of the six-party nuclear talks to signal its will to resume the negotiations promptly. Mr. Baek suspects that the move is related to a power transfer scheme inside North Korea.

I think the latest development has to do with North Korea’s power transition. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was reelected as the nation’s top leader on September 28, with his third son Kim Jong-un making an official debut as his heir apparent. Against this backdrop, North Korea invited American nuclear expert Siegfried Hecker and informed him of its construction of a light-water reactor. Why? Pyongyang could demand considerable economic compensation when the six-party talks restart or North Korea and the U.S. hold dialogue in the future, claiming that it was building a light-water reactor, apart from nuclear weapons development. I think North Korea delivered its message indicating it is interested in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and in the resumption of the six-party talks. Also, North Korea seems to have expressed its hope that other participants of the six-party talks will be more positive about the negotiations and touch on such topics when the talks actually resume.

The Seoul government dismissed the reports about North Korea’s construction of a light-water reactor, saying that the reports have yet to be confirmed. Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan says that Pyongyang’s claim, if confirmed, will run counter to U.N. resolutions and would not be helpful for the current situation. Meanwhile, the U.S. says that it expects North Korea will comply with its international duties related to denuclearization, stressing it’s most important that North Korea should keep its word, although the U.S. is ready for dialogue with the North from a long-term perspective. Mr. Baek says the light-water reactor issue won’t likely have a negative influence on regional diplomacy right now, but it’s still necessary to consider how to address this issue after the six-party talks reconvene.

I don’t think this issue will have any direct influence on the resumption of the six-party talks because it doesn’t represent a shift in North Korea’s nuclear policy and it won’t lead to any negative consequences, either, much like North Korea’s third nuclear test or its provocation against South Korea. However, I imagine the North will certainly bring up the light-water reactor issue when the six-party talks resume. Pyongyang would argue that it had to resort to nuclear tests because the U.S. didn’t keep its promise to build light-water reactors in the North. With this claim, the North sought to maintain the upper hand at previous six-party talks. Having this in mind, the South Korean government needs to coordinate views on this issue with other participants of the six-party talks, including the U.S.

Involved countries, including South Korea, are keeping a close watch on North Korea for any moves to escalate nuclear tension through the light-water reactor controversy. Consistent inter-Korean dialogue and concerted cooperation in the international community will be necessary for the sake of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.



[Interview] Organization Committed to Support, Solidarity for Women Defectors from N. Korea The number of North Korean defectors has now surpassed 20-thousand. As part of efforts to assist women defectors in particular, a new organization has been launched. Created by a local group dedicated to promoting women’s human rights, the new organization named the “Support & Solidarity for North Korean Women Defectors,” held its opening ceremony on October 29 at the building of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, located in Mugyo-dong, central Seoul. Choi Young-ae, representative of the women’s human rights group, will serve as the first president of the newly launched organization. As for the reason for establishing the organization, Choi says domestic women’s groups should no longer turn a blind eye to women defectors from North Korea.

According to reports, women defectors from North Korea are exposed to human rights violations, such as sexual harassment, family violence, the sex trade and human trafficking, in the process of resettling in South Korea. They also experience culture shock and gender discrimination in South Korean society. Unfortunately, even human rights groups here lack an understanding of the difficult lives of those women. There were no support systems whatsoever. We wanted to actively support women defectors and also achieve peaceful integration of North and South Korean societies through the strengthened solidarity among those people. Here, the women defectors band together and share their experiences. This is the motive for this organization.

To reflect this purpose, representatives of women’s groups, such as the Korea Women’s Associations United and the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center, as well as North Korea experts and researchers have joined the organization as consultants. Choi realized the harsh reality women defectors face when she served as the head of the “special committee for North Korean human rights” as the standing member of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. After finishing her service in the commission, Choi applied for a doctorate in the North Korean studies department at Ewha Woman’s University to research this matter. She began to meet with those interested in similar issues last year and planned support programs for women defectors.

While working as the head of the special committee for two years, I visited a number of aid groups and met with women defectors. I frequently made visits to the areas where the aid was actually provided. At the time, I always wondered if those women would act as a messenger of peace between South and North Korea. More than 20-thousand North Koreans have defected to South Korea, and 70-80 percent of them are women. If these women share something in common and pursue the same goal, they will surely play a leading role in bringing the two Koreas together. That was what I thought.

The organization will figure out the exact state of affairs regarding human rights abuses afflicting women defectors and come up with ways to provide them with counseling services and proper support programs. It will also train officials of aid groups for North Korean defectors. Currently, the group is planning on special programs for South and North Korean women.

One of the plans for this year is to experience the Olle trail in Jeju Island. A team of 25 women—10 North Koreans and 15 representatives of South Korean women’s groups—will take a three-day trip to Jeju Island to enhance mutual understanding and trust. Also, we’re considering launching a singing group next year. After six months of preparation, the team could participate in the annual Geoje choir competition next September.

In addition, the organization will integrate individual activities of each aid group to organize a systematic network and offer pragmatic proposals to the government. Choi stresses that there should be a change in public perceptions about North Korean newcomers in order to carry out the support programs effectively.

For North Korean refugees, the most difficult part is social prejudice against them. When a North Korean spy is arrested, for example, people around the defectors may ask questions, like “Oh, you aren’t a North Korean spy, are you?” They feel hurt, of course, whenever similar problems occur. Naturally, they never tell people they are from North Korea. Upon telling people they are defectors, they feel that others begin to look at them differently. The newcomers have to overcome discrimination and cultural estrangement. The government certainly has things to do to remedy the situation. And I do hope the general public will cast away prejudices against defectors from North Korea.

Whatever the support policies, we shouldn’t forget the topmost task of protecting the underprivileged women defectors and their basic human rights.