No anomalies found in coastal water quality monitoring near N. Korea's Pyongsan uranium factory

No anomalies have been detected in water quality monitoring conducted along South Korea's border regions and coastal areas in connection with wastewater from North Korea's Pyongsan uranium factory.

The government announced Thursday the results of its third-quarter joint inter-ministry monitoring program for 2026.

The survey collected samples from seven sites — three in the Ganghwa area, two at the mouths of the Han and Imjin rivers, and two along the Incheon coast — and analyzed them for uranium and five types of heavy metals.

Uranium concentrations came in at 0.332 to 1.116 parts per billion in the Ganghwa area, 0.074 to 0.279 ppb at the Han and Imjin river mouths, and 2.464 to 2.729 ppb along the Incheon coast — all within normal ranges.

Cadmium, arsenic, mercury, lead and hexavalent chromium either fell below environmental and marine environment standards or were not detected at any of the monitoring sites.

The government said it plans to continue the quarterly monitoring program.