Korea-Japan Leaders Meet Again After Two Months...This Time Expected to Discuss 'Contaminated Water and Seafood'

Review of Talks in Lithuania on the Occasion of NATO Meeting
Prospects for Fukushima Contaminated Water and Seafood Imports
Likely to Reject Seafood Imports While Respecting IAEA

President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are considering holding a summit meeting in Lithuania next week during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, marking their first face-to-face talks in two months. The main topics are expected to be the treatment and ocean discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and the importation of Fukushima seafood.

A senior presidential official stated on the 7th, "If the Korea-Japan summit takes place on-site, the issue of the discharge of treated water from Fukushima may come up." The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a final report on the 4th, stating that the environmental and human health impacts of the treatment and ocean discharge of Fukushima nuclear plant contaminated water are minimal. Japan is reportedly preparing to begin ocean discharge as early as next month.

Prime Minister Kishida is expected to seek understanding from the South Korean government regarding the safety of the ocean discharge during a separate meeting with President Yoon. Although the IAEA has reached a positive conclusion on the ocean discharge of contaminated water, Japan is concerned about diplomatic setbacks due to ongoing opposition from countries worldwide. Neighboring China has protested, saying it is difficult to trust the IAEA report, which it claims was influenced by Japanese funding, leading to tensions between China and Japan. Additionally, Pacific island nations are opposing the discharge due to concerns about potential damage from the contaminated water. In this context, Japan appears to be aiming to reduce opposition by securing consent from its closest neighbor, the South Korean government.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

If Prime Minister Kishida raises opinions related to Fukushima contaminated water, President Yoon plans to clarify South Korea’s position. The presidential office stated on the 5th, "We respect the announcement by the IAEA, a representative UN-affiliated international organization in the field of nuclear safety." However, the government intends to prioritize the health and safety of its citizens and monitor whether the implementation and inspection plans proposed by the IAEA and the Japanese government are properly carried out. The presidential office explained that the number of coastal radiation monitoring sites will be increased from the current 92 to 200, and seafood safety management will be strengthened. In line with this, the government urgently allocated 17.7 billion KRW in contingency funds on the same day to enhance domestic marine and seafood safety management, with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries planning to use 15.2 billion KRW of this for radiation monitoring and seafood safety management.

Even if Prime Minister Kishida requests the resumption of imports of Fukushima seafood during the summit, President Yoon is expected to reject the proposal. The government and ruling party have repeatedly emphasized their stance to indefinitely maintain the ban on imports of Fukushima seafood until the public feels assured. They argue that the IAEA’s verification of the safety of Fukushima nuclear plant contaminated water discharge and the importation of Fukushima seafood are separate issues. A senior presidential official told reporters the day before, "President Yoon will likely speak based on the position and principle of prioritizing the health of our people."

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