Japan-Fukushima Contaminated Water Discharge Related 'Korea-Japan Consultative Body' Likely to Be Activated

Members of the Seoul Environmental Movement Union are shouting slogans while marching around Cheonggyecheon-ro in Seoul on the morning of the 12th, condemning the Japanese government's decision to discharge radioactive contaminated water from Fukushima.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

A consultative body between South Korea and Japan to address the issue of radioactive contaminated water discharge from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is expected to be launched.

On the 16th, Asahi Shimbun reported that the Japanese government is considering accepting South Korea's proposal to form a bilateral consultative body regarding Japan's decision to dispose of contaminated water from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant by releasing it into the ocean.

A South Korean Foreign Ministry official stated on the 14th that, apart from the verification process through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), bilateral consultations are necessary to convey South Korea's position and obtain additional information, and that they are reviewing plans to hold such bilateral talks.

The Japanese government is reportedly willing to accept the formation of the consultative body if the South Korean government officially requests it.

The Japanese government is also reportedly considering including the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which oversees decommissioning operations, as well as the Nuclear Regulation Authority, the regulatory body, and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, in the consultative body.

On the 13th of last month, the Japanese government decided to dispose of the contaminated water, which has continuously accumulated to over 1.25 million tons since the core meltdown accident caused by cooling system failure during the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, by releasing it into the adjacent Pacific Ocean.

The Japanese government intends to purify the contaminated water using a device called the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) to reduce contamination levels below international standards before discharge.

However, South Korea and China strongly oppose the ocean discharge, as the contaminated water, referred to by the Japanese government as treated water, contains some radioactive substances such as tritium, which could still cause harm despite the reduced contamination levels.

On the day the Japanese government decided on the ocean discharge of the contaminated water, the South Korean government summoned Koichi Aiboshi, the Japanese Ambassador to South Korea, to protest, and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed opposition, stating it would cause serious damage to neighboring countries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.