South Korea conducts new water tests over suspected North Korean nuclear waste

ISTANBUL

South Korea on Friday conducted fresh water tests amid growing suspicion that North Korea has released nuclear waste into waterways near the inter-Korean border, authorities said.

Seoul previously reported no “meaningful” change in radioactive levels in the Yellow Sea after media reports claimed Pyongyang was dumping uranium waste from a refining facility in Pyongsan County into rivers flowing toward South Korea.

According to Yonhap News, experts collected water samples from six locations along the western border island of Ganghwa in northwest Gyeonggi province.

The Chosun Daily reported that a total of 10 sampling locations, including Ganghwa Island and the Han River estuary, will be tested for radioactive substances such as cesium and uranium, as well as heavy metals.

The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety will inspect the samples, with results expected in two weeks.

There was no immediate response from North Korean authorities.

Last month, a US-based monitoring program reported that satellite imagery showed construction of a suspected uranium enrichment facility at North Korea’s main nuclear complex in Yongbyon, north of Pyongyang.