PNRI forms teams to monitor for possible N. Korea missile debris

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute on Monday said that it has formed two teams of experts on radioactivity despite maintaining that North Korea’s missile launch will have no direct radiological nuclear threat to the country.

Even without nuclear threats to the country, a Radyo Inquirer 990AM report said that the PNRI has assigned five experts for each of the teams tasked to monitor for possible debris from North Korea’s rocket launch.

The said members are the same experts who conducted assessments on possible radioactive fallout from Japan’s Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station.

The report quoted PNRI Director Alumanda dela Rosa who said that the teams were prepared to check for possible debris in Cagayan or Virac, Catanduanes. She however maintained that North Korea’s missile launch was just a “military conventional test” and posed no nuclear or geological hazard.

The first team will conduct its monitoring activities from April 1 to 15 while those of the second team of experts are scheduled from April 15 to 30.