S. Korea to keep close tabs on Japan's Fukushima water discharge plan

Diplomacy 16:32 May 19, 2022

SEOUL, May 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will step up communication with Japan and the U.N. nuclear watchdog over Tokyo's planned release of radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean to address health and security concerns, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority on Wednesday gave initial approval for Tokyo Electric Power's plan to discharge water from the plant starting around early 2023. Final approval is planned following a 30-day public comment period.

The foreign ministry said it remains committed to its efforts for Japan to safely release the contaminated water from the plant in line with "international laws and standards" based on "objective and scientific perspective."

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is tasked with conducting safety reviews on the planned water release.

"The government will continue to strengthen communication between South Korea and Japan, as well as with the international community including the IAEA, by prioritizing public health and security in related to the (Fukushima) contaminated water," ministry spokesperson Choi Young-sam told a press briefing.

In April 2021, Japan announced a plan to start discharging the radioactive water into the sea in 2023 in what is expected to be a decadeslong process, as all storage tanks at the Fukushima plant are expected to be full as early as fall of 2022.