NATO Summit to Host South Korea-Japan Leaders Meeting... "Government Will Clearly State Position on Contaminated Water Treatment"

May Hiroshima G7 Follow-up Meeting After Two Months
Possibility of Discussing Contaminated Water Treatment and Ocean Discharge
Series of Bilateral Talks Continue with Meeting US Senators

President Yoon Suk-yeol is increasingly likely to hold a South Korea-Japan summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit held in Lithuania. This will be their first face-to-face meeting in about two months since the G7 summit in Hiroshima last May, where discussions on the treatment and marine discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant are expected to take place.

Lee Do-woon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, held a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the afternoon of the 9th and stated, "A South Korea-Japan summit is scheduled to take place during this NATO summit." This adds to the existing possibility as both countries are coordinating, although there remain variables such as the local schedules of the two leaders.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, the Presidential Office has indicated that if the South Korea-Japan summit is realized at this NATO summit, the issue of Fukushima treated water discharge may arise. Should the summit take place locally, Prime Minister Kishida is expected to seek understanding from President Yoon regarding the safety of the marine discharge of contaminated water. This is to minimize opposition grounds by obtaining consent from the South Korean government, the closest neighboring country, amid concerns and opposition from Pacific island nations fearing damage caused by the contaminated water. A Presidential Office official said, "Our government's basic stance is that the health and safety of our people come first," adding, "Under such principles, our government will clearly state its position regarding what the Japanese side raises."

The Presidential Office announced on the 5th that it "respects the announcement by the IAEA, a representative UN-affiliated international organization in the field of nuclear safety," and has established a policy to prioritize the health and safety of the people while monitoring whether the implementation and inspection plans proposed by the IAEA and the Japanese government are properly carried out.

Meanwhile, during the NATO summit, President Yoon will begin with a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, followed by a series of bilateral talks with the Netherlands, Norway, Lithuania, and others, a dinner hosted by the Lithuanian president for NATO allies and partner countries, and the AP4 (South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand) summit. A meeting with a delegation of U.S. senators visiting Lithuania is also scheduled. Spokesperson Lee added, "We expect achievements in strengthening international security cooperation, expanding supply chain cooperation, and securing the Busan Expo through the NATO summit."

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