• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1189-1195
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• 2023

In scenarios involving inspections and verifications of nuclear facilities, ensuring the proper functioning of on-site safeguards equipment is crucial. There have been precedents in Kazakhstan where equipment failed to operate properly due to extremly cold temperatures, and the year-round minimum temperature at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site is approximately minus 30 degrees Celsius. To ensure the proper functioning of equipment in extreme environments for on-site verification of nuclear activities on the Korean Peninsula, relevant research is necessary. This includes confirming the functionality of equipment used in inspections and verifications, as well as analyzing factors that may disrupt their normal operation. This study aims to conduct a risk analysis for the normal operation of equipment in extreme environments and develop criteria and procedures for environmental-based performance testing. To achieve this, we conducted a risk analysis based on IAEA safeguards, analyzed the utilization of equipment, and performed a risk analysis associated with transportation for on-site verification considering the environmental characteristics of the Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, we provided performance testing criteria and procedures. The research results can be utilized as reference material in the verification and monitoring processes of nuclear activities.

• Strategy21
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• s.43
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• pp.125-174
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• 2018

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the status of naval arms race in Northeast Asia. To this end, the scope of the research was limited to national security strategies, maritime strategies and naval strengthening of the United States, China, Russia and Japan. The major powers' active maritime strategies and naval arms race give some strategic implications to the Republic of Korea Navy as follows. First, China and Japan, unlike the past, are actively using submarines in offshore waters including the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, the ROK Navy must successfully promote the Jangbogo-III-class submarine, which is currently constructed, and get a nuclear-powered submarine and P-8 MPA capable of long-range and long-time operations to enhance ASW capability. Second, North Korea's current building submarines capable of loading SLBMs and SLBMs are a new threat to the ROK Navy. The current building KAMD, which focuses on terminal phase defense, cannot effectively respond to North Korea's SLBMs and should be converted to a multi-layered defense system including SM-3 at a mid-course phase. Third, as China militarizes the South China Sea, the instability of the South China Sea is growing. Therefore, the ROK Navy should strengthen its maritime cooperation with the regional countries such as Japan and ASEAN navies to protect SLOC. In conclusion, the ROK Navy needs to build a strong naval power to keep in mind that the 21st century naval rivalry in Northeast Asia is accelerating. The navy must do one's best to protect national strategic and vital interests by strengthening cooperation with regional countries. South Korea is also accelerating its defense reforms in accordance with the pattern of future warfare and the ROK Navy do one's best to have a balanced naval capability capable of actively operating in the offshore waters.

• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.157-166
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• 2018

Cryptic species complexes are increasingly recognized in phycological research, obscuring taxonomy and raising questions about factors influencing speciation. A recent exploration of kelp genetic diversity on Haida Gwaii, British Columbia revealed the existence of a new species, Saccharina druehlii, which is cryptic with Saccharina sessilis. This suggests that molecular investigations further north may be required to elucidate the taxonomy and evolutionary history of this lineage. Although, for several decades, S. sessilis was considered a single highly variable species, its taxonomy has been far from straightforward. In particular, Hedophyllum subsessile (Areschoug) Setchell is now recognized as a synonym of S. sessilis in North America, but as a growth form of Saccharina bongardiana in Far East Russia. To resolve this taxonomic confusion, we sequenced mitochondrial (CO1-5P) and nuclear (internal transcribed spacer) markers of S. sessilis populations from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, USA. Interestingly, none of our sequences matched S. sessilis sensu stricto. Instead, CO1-5P sequences from populations in the central and eastern Aleutians matched exactly S. druehlii with increasing sequence divergence occurring westward. Samples from Attu, the western-most island, composed a genetic group that clearly represents Kjellman's concept of Hafgygia bongardiana f. subsessilis and is distinct enough from S. druehlii and S. sessilis to potentially constitute a distinct species. Therefore, Saccharina subsessilis comb. nov. is proposed for this entity. Our results suggest the existence of a species complex at the crown node of S. sessilis and thus further investigation of Saccharina in Alaskan waters should be conducted to reconstruct the evolutionary history of this fascinating lineage.

• Convergence Security Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.109-115
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• 2019

The North's short-range projectiles and missiles are the Iskander-class missiles of the S-300 series, with a range of 270-420 kilometers and an altitude of 40-50 kilometers, making it very difficult to respond with South Korea's detection radar or striking weapons. The North's handling of the Seoul sea of fire also makes it very urgent for the South to deploy the weapons to power or introduce them as soon as possible, as it can identify its intention to strike the Seoul metropolitan area by equipping such short-range rockets and missiles with nuclear or chemical weapons. We will be prepared to prep are for reckless provocations by securing our own technology by continuously developing the Korean missile defense system and striking system, Kill Chain, which is designed to defend short-range missiles in the long-term, and securing our own technology.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.78-86
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• 2013

Caused by the Cheonanham attack and the Yeonpyeongdo bombardment occurred a few years ago, and the recent North Korea's nuclear test, the war crisis between South and North Korea has been increasing. Accordingly, an interest in obtaining a temporary residential space, for the case of the outbreak of war, where people can reside safely over a period of time has been escalating. However, in the disaster relief planning guidelines of the National Emergency Management Agency, the standards on the temporary residential spaces in preparation for storm and flood or earthquake are included, but the standards on the ones in responding to war are not yet equipped. In particular, the standards on the underground temporary residential spaces that can accommodate massive victims should be developed in preparation. In this study, through a requirements analysis based on the survey of war victims and a comparative analysis between disaster-related laws and regulations, the direction of relevant system improvement for the utilization of temporary residential spaces in responding to war is established.

• ALGAE
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2023

An enormous body of research is focused on finding ways to commercialize carotenoids produced by the unicellular green alga, Haematococcus, often without the benefit of a sound phylogenetic assessment. Evidence of cryptic diversity in the genus means that comparing results of pigment studies may be confounded by the absence of a phylogenetic framework. Moreover, previous work has identified unnamed strains that are likely candidates for species status. We reconstructed the phylogeny of an expanded sampling of Haematococcus isolates utilizing data from nuclear ribosomal markers (18S rRNA gene, 26S rRNA gene, internal transcribed spacer [ITS]-1, 5.8S rRNA gene, and ITS-2) and the rbcL gene. In addition, we gathered morphological, ultrastructural and pigment data from key isolates of Haematococcus. Our expanded data and taxon sampling support the concept of a new species, H. privus, found exclusively in North America. Despite overlap in numerous morphological traits, results indicate that ratios of protoplast length to width and akinete diameter may be useful for discriminating Haematococcus lineages. High growth rate and robust astaxanthin yield indicate that H. rubicundus (SAG 34-1c) is worthy of additional scrutiny as a pigment source. With the description of H. privus, the evidence supports the existence of at least five, species-level lineages in the genus. Our phylogenetic assessment provides the tools to frame future pigment investigations of Haematococcus in an updated evolutionary context. In addition, our investigation highlighted open questions regarding polyploidy and sexuality in Haematococcus which demonstrate that much remains to be discovered about this green flagellate.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 2017

Real-time monitoring of hourly concentrations of atmospheric Radon-222 ($^{222}Rn$, radon) and some gaseous pollutants ($SO_2$, CO, $O_3$) was performed throughout 2013-2014 at Gosan station of Jeju Island, one of the cleanest regions in Korea, in order to characterize their background levels and temporal variation trend. The hourly mean concentrations of radon and three gaseous pollutants ($SO_2$, CO, $O_3$) over the study period were $2216{\pm}1100mBq/m^3$, $0.6{\pm}0.7ppb$, $211.6{\pm}102.0ppb$, and $43.0{\pm}17.0ppb$, respectively. The seasonal order of radon concentrations was as fall ($2644mBq/m^3$)$${\sim_\sim}$$winter ($2612mBq/m^3$)>spring ($2022mBq/m^3$)>summer ($1666mBq/m^3$). The concentrations of $SO_2$ and CO showed similar patterns with those of radon as high in winter and low in summer, whereas the $O_3$ concentrations had a bit different trend. Based on cluster analyses of air mass back trajectories, the air mass frequencies originating from Chinese continent, North Pacific Ocean, and the Korean Peninsula routes were 30, 18, and 52%, respectively. When the air masses were moved from Chinese continent to Jeju Island, the concentrations of radon and gaseous pollutants ($SO_2$, CO, $O_3$) were relatively high: $2584mBq/m^3$, 0.76 ppb, 225.8 ppb, and 46.4 ppb. On the other hand, when the air masses were moved from North Pacific Ocean, their concentrations were much low as $1282mBq/m^3$, 0.24 ppb, 166.1 ppb, and 32.5 ppb, respectively.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.277-295
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• 2016

It is undoubtedly true that national security in Korean peninsula is on the road to destabilization. The main factors are known to be North Korea's development and experiment on nuclear arms, especially the forth nuclear experiment on January 6th, ICBM launch February 7th, and encroachment upon the territory the NLL on the 8th along with the shutdown on Gaeseong Industrial Complex. Also, China's trouble with other nations over sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea and the fact that Japan's government is veering to the right side and having territorial dispute are making the case worse. Nations in Northeast Asia are striving to obtain the interest for the sake of their own country. In order to do so, they're walking the path to achieve national security. Until then, they are not so willing to participate foreign matters or economical race. Even in our perspective, these issues are many of the main problems which our country is currently facing. However, it is important for them to avoid making policies which may take away the citizen's happiness. The number one priority for the nation or any form of a group is to act in the best interest for the national security and the citizen's happiness. They are the main factors why a nation could exist. They are the symbols of a nation's sovereign authority. Countries outside are proving it by increasing their national defense budget even in this unprecedented economical crisis. If we are willing to stay the same as ever, the disparity in the military force will not be the same in the future. In conclusion, the study examines the problem which changes in Northeast Asia's defense environment could bring and the appropriate amount of national defense budget in order to support the nation's integration of its abilities to move toward South and North Korea's unification.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2016

Background: It is necessary to consider the overall countermeasure for analysis of nuclear activities according to the increase of the nuclear facilities like nuclear power and reprocessing plants in the neighboring countries including China, Taiwan, North Korea, Japan and South Korea. South Korea and comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty organization (CTBTO) are now operating the monitoring instruments to detect radionuclides released into the air. It is important to estimate the origin of radionuclides measured using the detection technology as well as the monitoring analysis in aspects of investigation and security of the nuclear activities in neighboring countries. Materials and methods: A three-dimensional forward/backward trajectory model has been developed to estimate the origin of radionuclides for a covert nuclear activity. The developed trajectory model was composed of forward and backward modules to track the particle positions using finite difference method. Results and discussion: A three-dimensional trajectory model was validated using the measured data at Chernobyl accident. The calculated results showed a good agreement by using the high concentration measurements and the locations where was near a release point. The three-dimensional trajectory model had some uncertainty according to the release time, release height and time interval of the trajectory at each release points. An atmospheric dispersion model called long-range accident dose assessment system (LADAS), based on the fields of regards (FOR) technique, was applied to reduce the uncertainties of the trajectory model and to improve the detective technology for estimating the radioisotopes emission area. Conclusion: The detective technology developed in this study can evaluate in release area and origin for covert nuclear activities based on measured radioisotopes at monitoring stations, and it might play critical tool to improve the ability of the nuclear safety field.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.589-593
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• 2018

Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted the $6^{th}$ underground nuclear test at the Punggye-ri underground nuclear test site on September 27, 2017 12 hours 30 minutes of Korean local time. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) under U.N. announced the body wave magnitude of the event was mb 6.1 while U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)'s calculation was mb 6.3. In this study, the differences of the magnitude estimates were investigated and verified. For this purpose, a source scaling between the $5^{th}$ and $6^{th}$ event, which's epicenters are 200 meters apart, was performed using seismic data sets from 30 broadband stations. The relative amplitude variations of the $6^{th}$ event compared to the $5^{th}$ event in the frequency domain was analyzed through the scaling. The increased amount of the bodywave magnitude $m_b$ for the $6^{th}$ event was calculated at 1 Hz, which was compared to those from USGS and CTBTO's calculations.