Japanese Foreign Minister and IAEA Secretary-General Meeting... "Appreciation for Professional Response"

Prime Minister Kishida to Meet Soon... Report Release
High Likelihood of Decision That There Is No Issue with Release

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has been verifying the plan to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, held talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on the 4th and explained the contents of the IAEA's final report. After the meeting, Foreign Minister Hayashi stated, "I once again thank the IAEA for its professional response," suggesting that the IAEA has effectively judged that there is no problem with Japan's discharge of contaminated water.

On the 4th, NHK reported that the two held talks at the Ikura Diplomatic Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo that afternoon. NHK stated, "It appears that Foreign Minister Hayashi received an explanation of the IAEA report contents from Director General Grossi at this meeting." Director General Grossi is scheduled to visit Japan from the 4th to the 7th and deliver a report containing the IAEA's final judgment on the ocean discharge of contaminated water to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Immediately after the meeting, Foreign Minister Hayashi said at a joint press conference with Director General Grossi, "I once again thank the IAEA for its neutral and professional response regarding the safety and regulatory review of the treated water (the Japanese term for contaminated water)." He also emphasized, "We will politely explain to the international community the safety of ocean discharge based on scientific evidence."

This essentially suggests that the IAEA has concluded that there is no problem with the ocean discharge of contaminated water. So far, the IAEA has evaluated Tokyo Electric Power Company's response as appropriate in its interim report.

Director General Grossi stated, "The issues surrounding Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant are currently at an important phase," and added, "I am honored to submit a report this afternoon containing a comprehensive evaluation of the nuclear power plant's contaminated water, which the IAEA has been working on for two years."

Afterwards, Director General Grossi is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Kishida and hold a press conference on the topic at the Tokyo Press Center around 4:50 p.m. that day.

Following the official announcement by the IAEA, it is expected that Prime Minister Kishida will decide on the timing of the discharge. Since there is strong opposition within Japan, especially among fishermen in the Fukushima coastal area, it is likely that instead of immediately starting the discharge, efforts will focus on calming domestic and neighboring countries' public opinion for the time being. After completing his visit to Japan on the 7th, Director General Grossi will also visit South Korea, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands in the Pacific to persuade them.

However, the plan to start the discharge within this summer appears unchanged. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a press conference that morning, "The timing of the ocean discharge has been announced as from spring to summer this year, and there is no change to this policy," dismissing the possibility of a delay in the discharge raised by some.

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