Seoul: The unification ministry has explained to the United States that Unification Minister Chung Dong-young identified North Korea's Kusong region as a third location housing a uranium enrichment facility based on publicly available information, officials said Friday. In a rare revelation of information about North Korea, Chung stated in a parliamentary session in March that North Korea is operating another uranium enrichment facility in the northwestern region of Kusong, alongside previously reported sites in Yongbyon and Kangson.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the local newspaper DongA Ilbo reported that the U.S. has strongly protested to South Korea over Chung's comments, citing the disclosure of sensitive information about North Korea. It noted that Washington has expressed its intent to restrict information sharing with Seoul regarding North Korea. The unification ministry explained the context of Chung's remarks to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul following a request from the embassy.
Chang Yoon-jeong, the deputy spokesperson at the ministry, clarified during a press briefing that "the minister mentioned Kusong based on publicly available information, including reports from international research institutes." She also mentioned that "we've not received any information about Kusong from other institutions," and acknowledged that the U.S. is aware of the situation through the ministry's explanation.
The deputy spokesperson added that the ministry is not informed on whether Washington formally protested against the minister's statements or if there are any restrictions on information sharing between South Korea and the U.S.
Seoul's defense ministry refrained from verifying the details, only stating that the military maintains a close information-sharing system founded on a robust South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture.
The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) confirmed it is "aware" of the media report but did not provide further information. "USFK works alongside our ROK ally every day to deter aggression and maintain peace and stability on the peninsula," it said, referring to South Korea by the acronym of its official name, the Republic of Korea.
Chung's comments on Kusong garnered attention as the government had previously officially identified Yongbyon and Kangson as the primary sites for the North's uranium enrichment facilities. Yongbyon, located north of Pyongyang, is home to the North's key nuclear complex, and Kangson is believed to host the North's clandestine nuclear facility. Kusong is located approximately 15 kilometers southwest of the capital.
In September 2024, North Korea publicly disclosed its uranium enrichment facility for the first time without specifying its location.