[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Moon Seong-hyeok, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, sent a letter on the 14th to Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), requesting that the decision by the Japanese government to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean be reviewed in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced.
In the letter, Minister Moon stated, "The Japanese government's decision to discharge contaminated water from the nuclear power plant into the ocean is a unilateral measure taken without sufficient consultation and understanding with South Korea, the closest neighboring country," and explained, "It raises concerns about significant risks to the safety of neighboring countries and the ocean, which is a common asset of all humanity."
He emphasized, "The contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant must be treated in accordance with the purpose of the London Protocol, which is to 'protect and preserve the marine environment from all sources of pollution.'"
He further requested, "As the international organization leading discussions related to the marine environment, IMO should consider cooperating with the IAEA to ensure that the contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant is treated in a manner acceptable to the international community."
The letter is expected to be delivered directly to Secretary-General Lim through the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United Kingdom. A Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official said, "If the IMO contracting parties read the letter as requested by Minister Moon, it is expected to raise international awareness regarding the issue of discharging contaminated water from the nuclear power plant into the ocean."
Previously, in the 2019 and last year's meetings of the contracting parties to the London Convention and London Protocol, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries requested the Japanese government to actively share information with contracting parties and to consult sufficiently with neighboring countries regarding the treatment of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. This led to supportive opinions from countries such as China, Chile, and Canada.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to continue discussing the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water issue at the upcoming Compliance Group meeting and the contracting parties meeting of the London Convention and London Protocol scheduled for October this year.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
