Lee Nak-yeon Requests Japanese Ambassador to Transparently Disclose Information on Fukushima Contaminated Water

Transparent Information Disclosure, Must Gain International Community Consent
Domita "Accepted the Request... Will Continue Communication"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] On the 22nd, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, met with Koji Domita, the Japanese Ambassador to Korea, and requested transparency regarding the handling of radioactive contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

After receiving Ambassador Domita's visit at the National Assembly that morning, Lee told reporters, "Regarding the treatment of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, all information should be transparently disclosed, and the process should proceed with the consent of the international community."

Lee also conveyed that Ambassador Domita responded, "Although the (Japanese) government’s policy has not been finalized, we are well aware of the concerns in Korea. We will accept two requests."

Ambassador Domita further stated, "We are transparently disclosing all information, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has informed us that the discharge of contaminated water is technically feasible and complies with international practices," adding, "We will continue to communicate sufficiently with Korea."

Lee also mentioned that Ambassador Domita expressed hope for the resumption of Korea-Japan exchanges and air routes. In response to reporters’ questions about whether there were discussions on economic measures such as the whitelist related to Korea-Japan economic exchanges, Lee replied, "Discussions on economic measures are difficult to resolve separately or beforehand because they stem from the forced labor compensation issue."

Choi In-ho, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, also told reporters about the possibility of coordinating a Korea-Japan summit, "Such talks have not yet occurred, but there were expectations regarding Lee’s diplomatic role, especially in opening a breakthrough in Korea-Japan relations." Choi added, "When Lee said that he raised Japan’s abduction issue with North Korea whenever there was an opportunity for inter-Korean summits, Ambassador Domita conveyed that Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has a strong will to resolve the abduction issue and asked for continued cooperation from the Korean side."