"Japan Was More at Fault"... North Korea and China Jointly Defend Security Council Resolution Violations Over 'Contaminated Water'

North Korean Ambassador Suddenly Mentions Japan's Contaminated Water at Security Council Meeting on Reconnaissance Satellite Launch
China Joins In... "There Are Issues with Legitimacy of Discharge," Criticizing in Unison

North Korea raised the issue of the discharge of contaminated water from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean to defend against violations of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions following its attempt to launch a reconnaissance satellite. In response, China also expressed opposition to the discharge of contaminated water, aligning itself with North Korea.

Kim Song, North Korea's ambassador to the UN, requested an opportunity to speak as a concerned party at the UNSC meeting on North Korea's reconnaissance satellite launch held at the UN headquarters in New York on the 25th (local time).

[Image source=Getty Images Yonhap News]

Ambassador Kim reiterated North Korea's claim that its development of weapons of mass destruction is due to threats from the United States and South Korea, and suddenly at the end, attacked Japan by stating, "The decision to discharge contaminated water containing a large amount of radioactive material is a heinous crime against humanity and the environment."

While raising his voice extensively regarding North Korea's right to self-defense, Ambassador Kim abruptly shifted the topic to Japan's contaminated water issue.

However, he immediately added, "The more the United States and others show hostility toward North Korea, the more North Korea will strengthen its military defense capabilities."

As North Korea mentioned Japan's contaminated water issue, China quickly joined in. Deputy Ambassador Geng Shuang of China, who had been defending North Korea by claiming that North Korea's development of weapons of mass destruction is the fault of the United States, requested to speak further.

Deputy Ambassador Geng stated, "China strongly opposes the Japanese government's discharge of contaminated water," arguing that there are problems with the legality and legitimacy of the discharge decision.

With the sudden mention of the contaminated water issue, Japan also requested to speak. Japanese Ambassador Kimihiro Ishikane defended by saying, "Although this issue is completely unrelated to today's UNSC agenda, I will clarify it," and added, "The treated water is not a matter for political debate, and claims without scientific evidence cannot be accepted."

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