Government Urges IAEA to Reconsider Japan's Decision to Release Contaminated Water from Fukushima Nuclear Plant

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] The government has urged reconsideration of Japan's decision to discharge radioactive contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.

On the 21st, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it conveyed this message at the 65th IAEA General Conference held at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

First Vice Minister Yong Hong-taek delivered a video keynote speech as the chief representative of our government at the conference and expressed concern over Japan's decision to release contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.

In his speech, Vice Minister Yong criticized, "Despite our government's consistent opposition, in April, the Japanese government unilaterally decided on the issue of discharging nuclear contaminated water into the ocean without sufficient consultation with our country, the closest neighboring nation."

Vice Minister Yong emphasized the importance of the IAEA's role in enhancing objectivity, transparency, and safety in the process of treating Fukushima's contaminated water, and expressed hope that Korea would participate in the IAEA's monitoring and safety inspection activities.

He also conveyed our government's position supporting the IAEA's ongoing integrated response project to zoonotic infectious diseases (ZODIAC) and efforts to develop technologies for marine plastic pollution treatment.

Furthermore, he stated, "To safely decommission the Kori Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1, which is being undertaken for the first time domestically, we will develop regulatory guidelines based on IAEA safety standards and closely cooperate with IAEA member countries."

Vice Minister Yong mentioned our government's efforts to bring about substantial progress toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and requested the unwavering support of the international community.

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