SEOUL: A recent report by Robert Collins, a former chief strategist for the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command, revealed the grim reality faced by North Korean nuclear scientists. Contrary to popular belief, these scientists live under severe control, with their life paths dictated from childhood, including their research fields, living conditions, and even marriage.
Collins, drawing on testimonies from North Korean defectors and classified materials, paints a picture of scientists stripped of autonomy and trapped in a relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons development. Despite the perception of privilege due to their critical role, these scientists endure dehumanizing conditions, with failure equated to disloyalty.
The journey to becoming a “slave to the bomb” begins early, with children as young as ten identified and groomed for excellence in mathematics and science. The most promising students are selected for specialized education, often requiring their families to relocate for better opportunities.
Graduates from prestigious institutions, like the Shinwon-dong Middle School in Pyongyang, are funneled into North Korea’s nuclear program, where their fate is sealed. Success in a specific research field binds them to a lifetime of service to the regime, with limited choices in their profession, living arrangements, and even marriage partners, leaving them with no “freedom of choice.”
Despite the regime’s tight grip, dissatisfied scientists risk punishment and loss of benefits. International opportunities for study, though limited, offer a glimpse of the outside world, with select individuals sent abroad for education in Russia and China.
The quality of life for these scientists varies greatly depending on their assigned workplace, with over 100 nuclear facilities dotting the country. However, even amidst the hardship, some facilities are deemed less desirable, such as the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site.
Collins’ report exposes the stark reality faced by North Korean nuclear scientists, challenging the notion of privilege and revealing the oppressive regime they serve.
