Japanese Cabinet Minister Publicly Criticizes, Claims Fukushima Seafood Is Cleaner Than Korea's

Kazunori Tanaka, Japan's Minister of Reconstruction

Expresses Dissatisfaction with South Korea's Ban on Fukushima Prefecture Seafood Imports

▲Kazunori Tanaka, Japan's Minister of Reconstruction
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] It has been reported that a member of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet publicly criticized South Korea, expressing dissatisfaction with South Korea's ban on seafood imports from Fukushima Prefecture.

According to the Asahi Shimbun on the 19th, Kazunori Tanaka, Japan's Minister of Reconstruction, targeted South Korea, which banned seafood imports from Fukushima Prefecture and other areas, saying in a joint interview with Japanese media the previous day, "Japanese products are considerably safer and cleaner than those from that country (South Korea)."

He added, "Fukushima food ingredients have low radiation levels that are not problematic even within Japan," and claimed, "Japan distributes products that have passed the strictest standards in the world."

Tanaka also compared the permissible limits for radioactive substances in food, stating that Japan's standard is 100 becquerels (Bq) per kilogram, while South Korea's is 370 Bq per kilogram, the United States' is 1200 Bq per kilogram, and Europe’s is 1250 Bq per kilogram based on intra-regional distribution, according to Asahi.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government has argued that South Korea's ban on seafood imports is unjust and filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), but lost the case last year.