Fukushima Field Inspection Team Scheduled for 23-24
Will Verify Safety Beyond On-Site Observation
The government repeatedly emphasized that the goal of the inspection team scheduled to visit Fukushima, Japan on the 23rd-24th of this month is not a ‘site inspection’ but a ‘safety review.’ This means that the visit will not be limited to passively listening to explanations from Japanese electric power companies, but will involve a thorough analysis of the contaminated water purification and discharge facilities as a whole.
On the morning of the 12th, Park Gu-yeon, the first vice minister of the State Council, held a press conference and stated, “We will ensure that our government’s opinions are reflected in the Korea-Japan working-level consultations.” He also said that they will identify the information necessary for scientific and technical analysis and directly verify the capability to analyze radioactive materials.
Vice Minister Park said, “Based on the materials that Japan has disclosed so far and additional materials received from Japan, if on-site verification is conducted during this inspection, comprehensive review and analysis will be possible.” Initially, there were criticisms that the name of the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water inspection team as a ‘site inspection team’ implied that the visit would be limited to site observation rather than comprehensive safety verification.
The government’s position is clearly opposed to the unilateral discharge of contaminated water whose scientific safety has not been verified. Vice Minister Park stated, “The disposal of contaminated water must be carried out in accordance with international law and international standards,” adding, “To this end, we have continuously urged Japan for transparent information disclosure and thorough verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” and introduced that safety verification procedures are underway centered on the IAEA in accordance with international agreements.
He also quoted remarks from Japanese Prime Minister Kishida during the Korea-Japan summit. He said, “The Prime Minister promised, as the head of state, not to allow discharge methods that adversely affect the health of his own citizens and the Korean people or the marine environment,” and pointed out, “This inspection team is planned to be composed of top experts in the field of safety regulation.”
Meanwhile, apart from the IAEA’s verification, the government has been conducting its own scientific safety review by receiving additional requested materials through bilateral consultations between Korea and Japan, in addition to the contaminated water-related materials disclosed by Japan. The size of the inspection team is expected to be finalized through discussions at the ‘Korea-Japan director-general level consultation’ scheduled for the afternoon of the same day. Meanwhile, the IAEA has released a total of five reports verifying the Fukushima nuclear power plant contaminated water. It is expected to release a report containing the analysis results of contaminated water samples in May and a final report at the end of June.
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