calendar>>July 19. 2011 Juch 100
US Forces' Stockpile of Depleted Uranium Shells in S. Korea Disclosed
Pyongyang, July 19 (KCNA) -- It has been recently disclosed that the U.S. forces in south Korea stockpiled depleted uranium shells in their base in Chunchon before it was transferred, sparking public uproar.

A medium of south Korea recently obtained and opened to public the full text of a report about the results of the survey of radiation in the U.S. military base in Chunchon which had been transferred to south Korea in 2005.

According to the report, at that time an environment business conducted a separate survey of radiation in the Chunchon base, clarifying the radiation level was higher than the average one in places outside parts store and lodging quarters.

The claim that the U.S. forces in south Korea stored depleted uranium shells in the Chunchon base was made by Ri Si U, the then cameraman-writer.

Ri cited data, sent by an American organization urging the Command of the U.S Forces in the Pacific to open information to the public, to disclose the fact that 3 million depleted uranium shells were stockpiled in the U.S. air-force bases in Suwon, Osan and other places. It is highly likely that such shells might be stored in the U.S. military base in Chunchon where a helicopter unit was stationed, he asserted.

It has been recently revealed that a nuclear warhead which caused an accident in 1972 was scrapped at this base.

The U.S. forces in south Korea officially admitted their possession of depleted uranium shells in 1997 and, afterwards, one shell was found mixed with the scrapped shells in Ryonchon County, Kyonggi Province, stirring up outcry.

Copyright (C) KOREA NEWS SERVICE(KNS) All Rights Reserved.