The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission inspected a response drill that assumed an illegal drone intrusion at the Wolseong nuclear power plant.
The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission said on the 16th that it visited the Wolseong nuclear power plant in Yangnam-myeon, Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, observed a physical protection drill at the plant, and inspected drone detection and response equipment and protection facilities. Physical protection refers to a security system that includes personnel, equipment, and procedures to protect major facilities such as nuclear power plants from external intrusion or attack.
At domestic nuclear power plants, radio frequency (RF) scanners for drone detection and jammers that interfere with drone flights are currently in operation. An RF scanner is equipment that tracks the communication signals between a drone and its controller to determine location and direction. A jammer is equipment that interferes with drone control signals to make flight difficult or force a return to the original position.
In this Wolseong plant drill, radar equipment was also pilot-operated for the first time among domestic nuclear power plants. Radar is equipment that analyzes signals reflected back from objects after emitting radio waves to determine distance, speed, and direction. It can detect autonomous drones that move along preprogrammed routes without communicating with a controller, complementing the limitations of existing RF scanners.
The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission checked whether the procedures for protection personnel to detect and identify illegal drones using radar, and the subsequent response system, were appropriately established.
The radar being introduced at the Wolseong plant is scheduled to go into full operation from late June after additional performance tests and training for operating personnel. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission plans to comprehensively evaluate the operating results and review ways to apply the system to other nuclear power plant sites.
Cho Jeong-a, Secretary-General of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, said, "With the introduction of radar at the Wolseong plant, we expect improved performance in detecting illegal drones around the plant," and added, "We will continue inspections so that nuclear operators can expand detection and response equipment and enhance their response capabilities through drills."