A primary concern in North Korea after denuclearization is what to do with its nuclear scientists and workers, according Kang Jung-min, a visiting scholar at Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.

The article appeared in a weekly bulletin published by the National Intelligence Service. Once North Korea abandons its nuclear program, it will take billions of dollars and decades to dismantle the nuclear facilities, the article said, and the challenge is to redirect thousands of North Korean nuclear personnel to peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Quoting research by the RAND Corporation and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the article estimates that the number of North Korean nuclear personnel is between 3,000 and 6,000, with about 100 to 200 being the core members involved in making nuclear weapons. "It's vital to provide the North's nuclear workers with alternative civilian jobs," Kang says.

If the Yongbyon nuclear plant is to be used for peaceful purposes such as medical and engineering, about 200 to 500 people can be employed there, he writes. In redirecting the scientists to civilian jobs, their identities must be carefully checked, and North Korea must release all the personal information of key members involved in developing nuclear weapons, he says. He added countries in the six-party talks should provide financial assistance to help North Korean nuclear personnel find new jobs.

The article was also published in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientist.