According to South Korean media reports, South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong said on April 19 that there is no need for South Korea to insist on opposing Japan if Japan can treat its nuclear effluent to the standards required by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
After Japan announced the discharge on the 13th, the South Korean side reacted extremely fiercely, with people organizing spontaneous demonstrations and the South Korean government strongly opposing it, immediately holding a high-level meeting to discuss countermeasures. But now, the Korean side seems to have changed its attitude again. It is worth noting that on the 17th, the U.S. President’s Special Envoy for Climate Issues visited South Korea and met with him by none other than Chung Eui-yong.
“No objection to Japanese emissions!” South Korea’s attitude has made a 180-degree turn, who is behind it again?
South Korea does not oppose Japan’s emissions
According to South Korean media reports, Jung Eui-yong attended a parliamentary questioning session on the government on the 19th, and when asked if there was a change in his position against Japanese emissions, he said, “The government has always put the safety and health of the people in the first place, and has made three requests to the Japanese side: first, the need for adequate scientific basis and sharing of information, the second is to conduct prior consultation, and the third is to involve South Korean experts in the verification process of the International Atomic Energy Agency.”
Jung Eui-yong said that if the Japanese side can follow the standard procedures set by the International Atomic Energy Agency for the treatment of nuclear wastewater, then there is no need for South Korea to insist on its opposition. He also revealed that the South Korean side is still discussing an effective solution to the matter.
According to previous reports in the South Korean media, the South Korean side has applied to the International Atomic Energy Agency to send its own experts to participate in testing the Fukushima nuclear effluent. Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Aisei Takashi said that Japan is assessing the matter, but needs to make further consultations with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“No objection to Japanese discharge!” South Korea’s attitude 180-degree turn, who is behind it again?
The shadow of the U.S. looms large
However, at the questioning session on the 19th, Zheng Yisong mentioned the United States. He said that the U.S. side expressed support for Japan’s discharge of nuclear sewage into the sea, which is very different from the judgment of the Korean side, the South Korean government has made its position clear to the U.S. side through various channels and seek understanding. He also revealed that South Korea and the United States are in agreement on the basic principle that “the issue must be qualified by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
As previously reported by foreign media, the U.S. President’s Special Envoy for Climate Issues John Kerry visited South Korea on the 17th and met with Chung Eui-yong to exchange views on a number of important matters, including Japan’s discharge of nuclear effluent.
According to the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jeong made his country’s position clear to the U.S. side, and hoped that the U.S. side would pay more attention to the matter of Japan’s nuclear sewage discharge and ensure that Japan would provide accurate information to the international community.
And Kerry said in an interview with the media after the meeting that Japan made the decision in full compliance with the norms of the international community. He also claimed, “The United States is confident that the matter will be fully explored by the Japanese side and the International Atomic Energy Agency.” He said that the International Atomic Energy Agency is the authoritative organization in this field and that Japan’s decision on the discharge is “very transparent”.
Kerry also asserted that “it would be inappropriate for the United States to intervene in the process that is moving forward.”
“No objection to Japan’s discharges!” South Korea’s 180-degree turn, who is behind it?
Fukushima nuclear leak far from eliminating effects
Japan has been insisting that “Japan has decided to discharge treated water that is fully compliant with the standards” in the matter of discharges. But in fact, the water is basically heavily contaminated water that has come into contact with the core of the reactor, and it is almost impossible to achieve harmless treatment with existing technology. To this day, the effects of the Fukushima nuclear meltdown have not been eliminated.
On April 19, the Japanese government announced that black redfish from Fukushima prefectural waters were banned from the market due to the detection of excessive radioactive substances. As early as February this year, the Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Association found that the radioactive substances contained in the blackfish in the nearby waters exceeded the standard during the test salvage operation, and took the initiative to stop the listing of the species.
It is reported that after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, up to 44 types of seafood were restricted from the market, but in February last year, the above-mentioned seafood listing restrictions were completely lifted. This time, the ban on blackfish is also seen as a restart of seafood restrictions in the surrounding waters.
“No objection to Japanese discharges!” South Korea’s attitude has made a 180 degree turn, who is behind it again?
Recent Comments