Government: "Follow-up Measures Including Participation of Korean Experts on Contaminated Water Implemented... Working-Level Talks Begin"

Follow-up Measures to Be Implemented After Korea-Japan Summit
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Begins Working-Level Talks

The government stated that regarding the plan to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which President Yoon Suk-yeol discussed with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida the previous day (the 12th), it "plans to promptly begin consultations with the Japanese side for subsequent implementation."

During the Korea-Japan summit on the same day, President Yoon expressed respect for the announcement by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and demanded three points: ▲ participation of Korean experts in the contaminated water discharge inspection process ▲ real-time sharing of discharge monitoring information ▲ immediate suspension of discharge and notification to Korea if radioactive material concentration exceeds the standard.

Park Gu-yeon, the First Deputy Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, said at the daily briefing on Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant contaminated water held at the Government Complex Seoul on the 13th, "Meaningful discussions were exchanged regarding contaminated water treatment at the Korea-Japan summit," and made the above remarks.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Deputy Minister Park said, "Since follow-up measures were somewhat discussed between the leaders, consultations will proceed through various channels," adding, "Several high-level officials are also present locally, so there will be additional contacts in various forms, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also start practical contact with Japanese authorities."

However, in response to a question about 'Japan not giving a definite answer on the participation of Korean experts in the contaminated water discharge inspection process,' he said, "The entity currently handling this is the IAEA, which has also opened a local office in Japan," and added, "Whether experts will be dispatched, and if so, where and in what form, requires complex coordination, so Japan was probably not in a position to say 'yes' immediately."

Regarding criticism that the government is "using taxpayers' money to represent Japan" by distributing a booklet containing 10 rumors about contaminated water both online and offline, Deputy Minister Park rebutted, saying, "It is because of fake news that causes excessive concern about the contaminated water."

Deputy Minister Park said, "If there were no fake news, if irresponsible information had not threatened the livelihoods of our fishermen, small business owners, and fisheries workers, this budget would have been used much more productively," and added, "It has reached a point where not providing accurate information is considered the government's 'dereliction of duty.'"

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