'N. Korea's uranium technology modeled after Japanese facility'

Recent testimony has found that North Korea's uranium enrichment technology was modeled on the Japanese nuclear reprocessing facility. In addition, evidence has showed that nuclear materials were delivered to North Korea via China.

During a South Korea-China-Japan annual symposium co-held Friday by the Hwajeong Peace Foundation of the Dong-A Ilbo, the Institute 21 for Peace Studies, the Asahi Shimbun and the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, Emeritus Professor Takehiko Yamamoto of Waseda University said, "The North's P-2 centrifuge for uranium enrichment were based on Urenco's enrichment facility designed by the Japanese Rokkasho-mura and the Dutch Almelo." He also confirmed that a scientist affiliated to the "Korean Scientists and Engineers Association in Japan" provided nuclear and missile technologies to North Korea.

“While the disclosure was included in the 2nd final report written by the panel of experts in May 2011, the report was not open to public due to oppositions from China,” the Japanese professor said.

On the final report, China claimed that the report cannot be published unless the names of ports such as "Dalian" and "Taiwan" are removed. While the panel agreed with the Chinese ambassador to the UN on publishing the report without the port names, the report remained confidential as the Chinese government rejected to give its final approval. Emeritus Professor Yamamoto is an expert on North Korean nuclear development issues, and served as a member of the panel of experts for the U.N. Security Council.

조숭호기자 shcho@donga.com