HUNGNAM CHEMICAL PLANT PONGUNG HUNGNAM, NORTH KOREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00909A000400010021-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 12, 2008
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: June 1, 1969
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/06/12 : CIA-RDP79T00909A000400010021-9
Top Secret
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Industrial Facilities
(Non-Military)
Basic Imagery Interpretation Report
Hungnam Chemical Plant Pongung
Hungnam, North Korea
. Top Secret
D71 1 E
COPY
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
Imagery Analysis Service
Hungnam Chemical Plant Pongung
UTM COORDINATES
52SCV788119
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
39-51-05N 127-35-08E
1:200,000 (SECRET
The Hungnam Chemical Plant Pongung manufactures industrial chemicals
and synthetic fibers. Production facilities for caustic soda, calcium
carbide, calcium cynanamide, ammonium chloride and probably vinyl acetate
can be identified on photography. In addition, there are facilities for
the possible production of polyvinyl chloride and dyestuffs which collateral
information indicates are products of this plant.
This report covers only the period from late 1963 to February 1969.
The plant was complete in October 1963 and no significant changes have
occurred since then. It was observed in operation on all photography
during this period.
The report includes a photograph and a detailed line drawing of the
plant, a discussion of plant status, and reference data.
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The Hungnam Chemical Plant Pongung is located in the northwestern
section of Hungnam, 5 nautical miles (nm) southeast of Hamhung. The
plant is part of an industrial com lex which also contains the Hungnam
Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant the Hungnam Copper Refinery
and the Hungnam Explosives Plant 17
A waterworks facility adjacent to the west side supplies it with water
from the Songchon Gang (River).
collocated Hungnam Transformer Station, Chemical Plant
and Hungnam Transformer Station, Pongung Chemical Plant
Electric power is received from the regional grid through the
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Physical Features
The plant measures approximately 10,000 by 4,000 feet and occupies 920
acres. It is secured on three sides by.a wall and bordered on the fourth
(west side) by a canal.
Operational Functions
The primary products of this plant are industrial chemicals, synthetic
fibers, and possibly polyvinyl chloride and dyestuffs. The plant also manu-
factures intermediates such as chlorine, acetylene and ammonia which can be
shipped as finished products. The plant can be divided functionally into
the following eight production areas:
Probable Vinyl Acetate Production (Area A) -- This area probably produces
vinyl acetate by the following process. Using calcium carbide as a raw
material, acetylene would be formed in the possible gas producing shop
'(Item 2), with part of it being converted into acetic acid in the possible
.acetaldehyde and acid shops (Items 4-5). The remaining acetylene and the
.acetic acid would then be reacted to form vinyl acetate in the possible
polymerization and neutralization shop (Item 6), and the vinyl acetate would
be sent to the synthetic fiber spinning shop (Item 10).
Gas By-products Production (Area B) -- Coal is.heated to produce coke,
methane, hydrogen and nitrogen.
Ammonium Chloride Production (Area C) -- Hydrogen from the electrolysis
building (Item II) and nitrogen from the probable air separation building
(Item 13) are combined in the probable ammonia synthesis building (Item 12).
The ammonia is then reacted with an aqueous solution of chlorine to form
ammonium chloride in the reactor building (Item 14).
Possible Dyestuff Production (Area D) -- This area has been identified
as a possible dyestuffs production area for the following reasons: 1) col-
lateral sources report a dyestuff production facility in this area; 2) dye-
stuffs are probably required in the nearby probable synthetic fiber produc-
tion facility; and 3) raw materials which can be used in dyestuff production
are produced within the plant.
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Calcium Carbide and Cyanamide Production (Area F) -- Coke and quicklime
are heated to a very high temperature in the electric furnaces in the two
calcium carbide shops (Items 17 and 18). Part of the calcium carbide is
then reacted with nitrogen in the calcium cyanamide production building
(Item 19).
Possible Polyvinyl Chloride Production (Area G) -- A firm functional
identification of the facilities in this area could not be made from the
photography, but collateral information indicates that polyvinyl chloride
production facilities may be located here. The availability of acetylene
and chlorine which are required for the production of polyvinyl chloride
tend to substantiate this possible identification.
Caustic Soda Production (Areas H and I) -- Salt brine is electrolyzed to
form caustic soda and chlorine in the electrolysis buildings (Items 22 and 28).
Status and Activity
This report covers only the period from late 1963 to February 1969.
ThP nlant was complete and in operation when observed on photography of
It appeared to be operating on all subsequent coverage
through February 1969. Analysis of photography since October 1963
revealed no significant changes in the facilities.
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548th RTG. US A i r Target Chart, Series 200. Sheet M0380-4HL, 4th edition,
April 1968, Scale 1:200,000 (SECRET
Documents
1. CIA. SID Memorandum 123/68, The Nitrogen Fertilizer Complex and the
onauna Chemical Complex, Hungdogi-dong, North Korea, 10 April 1968,
I-P (TOP SECRET RUFF)
2. Army. Hungnam Chemical Plant, Pongung; Pongung, North
N 12734 E Aril 169 (SECRET
Requirement
EXSUBCOM - BR-N/003-69
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