SEOUL, Apr 14 (NNN-YONHAP) – South Korea expressed strong regret, yesterday, over Japan’s decision to dump radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.
Koo Yoon-cheol, chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, said, during an emergency vice-ministerial meeting that, the South Korean government “expresses strong regret and will take all necessary measures for the safety of our people.”
Koo strongly urged the Japanese government to transparently disclose information on, and verify all procedures of discharging the contaminated water from the Fukushima power plant into the ocean.
The South Korean government planned to strongly demand Japan’s concrete actions, in a bid to help protect people’s safety and prevent any damage to the marine environment.
The government also planned to convey Seoul’s concern about the radioactive water release to the international community, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), while requesting an objective verification over it.
Koo said, South Korea will take stern measures, such as compensation demand, if any damage by the wastewater release is found, through an international verification or Seoul’s scientific monitoring, vowing to more thoroughly implement radiation checks on food imports and inspect the import origin.
The Japanese government announced its decision earlier in the day, to release the massive amount of contaminated water into the sea from the Fukushima power plant struck by an earthquake-caused tsunami in 2011.
Regarding whether to refer to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Koo said, Seoul may decide on it after collecting relevant data, because damage from the released radioactive water needs to be verified.
The South Korean foreign ministry summoned Koichi Aiboshi, Japanese ambassador to Seoul, to protest against Japan’s decision, it said.
Second Vice Foreign Minister, Lee Taeho, conveyed Seoul’s opposition to the wastewater disposal, expressing grave concern about potential threats to the health of South Korean people and the environment.
The vice minister emphasised the need for Japan’s transparent disclosure of information on the contaminated water disposal, observance of environment-related standards, acceptable to international society, and objective verification through participation of international community.
South Korea’s political parties denounced the Japanese decision. Choi Ji-eun, the ruling Democratic Party’s spokesperson for international affairs, said, it was a “shameless and selfish” act for Japan to make the unilateral decision, despite the opposition from the international community.
Yoon Hee-seok, spokesman of the main conservative opposition People Power Party, was quoted as saying, the party expresses strong regret over the “irresponsible” decision made by Japan, without any advance consultations, nor in-depth discussions with neighbouring countries.
Moreover, a South Korean alliance of 31 anti-nuclear and environmental advocacy groups said, it expresses fury at Japan, which unilaterally seeks to dump contaminated water into the ocean, despite opposition from neighbouring countries for the past 10 years.
Calling the Japanese decision a “nuclear terror,” the alliance pledged to do all it can to prevent the radioactive wastewater discharge.– NNN-YONHAP
