"UN General Assembly Resolution Push"... Diplomatic Fallout in 'Oryeomsu Jeongguk' Controversy

"Discussion on Contaminated Water at the UN" National Assembly Resolution Proposal 추진

The 'contaminated water hoax' is striking the political sphere. The opposition parties opposing Japan's discharge of Fukushima contaminated water have launched a hunger strike and are pushing for a UN resolution, while the government and ruling party countered by calling it agitational politics using hoaxes.

The 'National Solidarity for Economic Democratization and Peaceful Reunification' (Minpyeongryeon), a group of Kim Geun-tae faction lawmakers within the Democratic Party of Korea, announced on the 27th at a National Assembly communication office press conference that they are promoting a National Assembly resolution to address the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water issue at the United Nations (UN) level. They argued that the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water issue should not be left solely to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) but should be discussed together on a global scale.

The resolution disclosed by Minpyeongryeon includes urging that the issue of Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water discharge be adopted as an agenda item at the 78th regular session and dispatching a delegation of lawmakers to the UN for this purpose. It also calls on the government and the National Assembly to make efforts to have it adopted as an agenda item at the UN General Assembly.

The resolution, which has obtained the consent of Minpyeongryeon-affiliated lawmakers, is scheduled to be submitted to the National Assembly on the 28th after collecting additional signatures from other lawmakers besides Minpyeongryeon. Lawmaker Hong said, "The People Power Party lawmakers I personally contacted spoke positively about this issue, but since there is a party stance, I do not know if they will participate in the resolution," adding, "The resolution will be made so that the Justice Party, progressive parties, and the People Power Party can all participate."

Hong Ik-pyo, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, the Democratic Party had taken diplomatic measures at the party level regarding the Fukushima contaminated water issue. On the 21st, the Democratic Party sent a joint letter in the names of the party leader and floor leader to governments and parliamentary leaders of 18 countries in the South Pacific region, including Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. The letter included contents about international solidarity concerning the Fukushima contaminated water discharge and requests for provisional measures at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret on the 25th regarding the Democratic Party's move, stating, "It is regrettable as it does not respect the inherent authority of the executive branch under the Constitution."

The opposition, including the Democratic Party, is responding with an all-out effort, such as initiating hunger strikes related to the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water controversy. Following Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Jae-gap's hunger strike at the National Assembly on the 20th, Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Won-shik joined the hunger strike on the 26th. Justice Party leader Lee Jeong-mi began an indefinite hunger strike in front of the Embassy of Japan in Korea the day before.

The People Power Party criticized the opposition's actions as political agitation using contaminated water. On the same day, Yoon Jae-ok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the National Assembly floor countermeasure meeting, "In just a few days, the Democratic Party's contaminated water agitation has become more outrageous," adding, "Once nuclear contaminated water is spilled, it cannot be taken back. Saying the golden time is running out is no different from marketing shouting 'sold out' on home shopping." He pointed out, "The hunger strike also seems to be an attempt to dilute the truth by resorting to extreme methods as the scientific truth about contaminated water becomes known." He also criticized Minpyeongryeon's resolution, saying, "Given the nature of the UN, is it normal to officially express a national position to an international organization?"

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