Dymstech provides EMP shielding systems
North Korea’s recent nuclear weapons test has raised fears of devastating damage, after the regime said it could destroy much of any city in the world. Dymstech CEO Song Young-bae said, however, its physical devastation and following fallout damage aren’t everything. He said that there is another fear that people have yet to realize.
“A nuclear weapons attack could immediately kill hundreds of thousands of people in South Korea. At the same time, the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) resulting from the explosion could wipe out entire electrical grids across the country,” Song said during an interview with The Korea Times.
“Every electrical machine and device, including cars, computers and smartphones, will immediately shut down. Korea would go back to the Stone Age if a nuclear EMP was detonated high in the atmosphere.”
A nuclear EMP is a burst of high-intensity radiation emitted from a nuclear explosion in the upp e r atmosphere that fries electronics, much like a sudden power surge can overload and destroy a power outlet. It would leave important facilities, like hospi- tals, without power.
According to a study released by the main opposition Liberty Korea Party lawmaker Yoon Han-hong, the nation’s power agencies, including Korea Electric Power Corp., Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and Korea Gas Corp., have no countermeasure against a North Korean nuclear EMP attack. And Yoon said the impact will be even worse in the private sector.
“The private sector is literally defenseless to such an attack. Private data and account information will be gone immediately. Also, there will be no power supply. The cost of such social chaos would be immeasurable,” Song said.
“Major countries such as the United States, China and Japan have carried out EMP shielding projects for a long time. Now, the Korean government and private sector should closely work together to come up with such a countermeasure.”
Established in 1995 as a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) evaluation company, Dymstech entered into the EMP shielding market in 2012, three years after North Korea’s second nuclear test in 2009. With about 50 researchers and engineers in its research center, Dymstec is the only Korean firm to provide turnkey EMP protection rack products.
It’s EMP shielding also satisfies the U.S. military standard for high-altitude EMP protection for ground-based facilities. Dymstech is the only Korean company to meet the strict requirements.
Dymstech offers customized EMP protection rack products, and Song said it is extremely difficult to construct EMP shielding for an entire building or facility.
“Most buildings and facilities in Korea weren’t built considering the need for EMP protection. Constructing EMP shielding or EMP-free shelter for an existing building is therefore extremely difficult, time-consuming and costs a lot,” Song said.
“Currently, Dymstech only produces EMP protection rack products. The rack size is customized to the customer’s request. Our EMP racks are easy to install, cost-efficient, easy to maintain, and able to safeguard critical data servers and network equipment from EMP attacks.”
Following North Korea’s sixth nuclear weapons test last month, Song said Dymstech has received a number of inquiries not only from private firms but also government and military agencies about the company’s EMP protection rack products.
Communication giants KT and SK Telecom are Dymstech’s partners while government and military agencies such as the Agency for Defense Development have also been supplied by the firm.