MoF, Raises Fukushima Nuclear Contamination Issue at London Convention and Protocol Assembly

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that it will participate in the '43rd Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the London Convention and the 16th Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the London Protocol,' held for five days starting on the 25th, to once again raise the issue of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan.

The London Convention and Protocol are international agreements that review and discuss the implementation of the prohibition of ocean dumping of waste by contracting parties. South Korea joined the London Convention and the London Protocol in 1993 and 2009, respectively.

At this Contracting Parties meeting, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to reiterate the necessity of discussing the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water issue within the London Protocol framework and request the Japanese government to provide sufficient and transparent information regarding the treatment of the contaminated water.

The Ministry also mentioned the need for consultations with neighboring countries regarding the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water treatment at the Contracting Parties meetings in 2019 and last year, and in August this year, submitted a document to the Secretariat proposing the formation of a working group to discuss the issue.

Yoon Hyun-soo, Director of Marine Environment Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, stated, "If contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant is discharged into the ocean, we will continue to raise related issues so that the international community can pay attention to the negative impact on the marine environment that is of concern."