Cho Tae-yong on Fukushima Contaminated Water: "We Will Decide Our Position Based on Objective and Scientific Evaluation"

Visiting Japan to Attend ROK-US-Japan National Security Advisors Meeting
Reiterates Japan's Non-Participation in NCG

Cho Tae-yong, Director of the National Security Office, stated on the 14th that regarding the issue of the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the government will establish its position based on objective and scientific evaluation for the safety and health of the public.

When reporters met Cho at Haneda Airport in Japan that afternoon and asked about the stance on Fukushima contaminated water, he said, "After the Korean inspection team visited, consultations between Korea and Japan have been ongoing. The Korean government will determine its position based on transparency and objective, scientific evaluation." He added, "The overall approach is the same whether under the previous Moon Jae-in administration or the current Yoon Suk-yeol administration."

Earlier, Cho departed for Japan via Gimpo International Airport to attend the Korea-US-Japan security chiefs meeting. Regarding whether the contaminated water issue would be discussed in the bilateral talks with Akiba Takeo, Director of Japan’s National Security Bureau, Cho said, "Various mutual interests could come up as topics," but added, "It would be better to explain what was discussed after the consultations are concluded and results are available."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the possibility of Japan participating in the Korea-US Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), Cho repeatedly expressed a negative stance. He said, "I think the Korea-US NCG will be activated soon," and "There has been no request from the Japanese side for a similar Korea-US-Japan consultation."

He continued, "The Korean government is open to discussing policy-level extended deterrence among Korea, the US, and Japan," but emphasized, "The Korea-US NCG is a military consultation body aimed at preparing for North Korea’s military provocations, whereas the Korea-US-Japan discussions would be at a policy level for general extended deterrence, so it is accurate to consider them separately."

Earlier, when reporters at Gimpo International Airport asked about the possibility of Japan joining the NCG, Cho said, "Our government is open to policy-level consultations on extended deterrence among Korea, the US, and Japan," but added, "However, this is very different from the Korea-US NCG agreed upon. The NCG is an operational-level consultation between Korea and the US aimed at strong retaliation against North Korea’s nuclear provocations."

Regarding whether the Korea-US-Japan security chiefs meeting would discuss countering China, he said, "I don’t know," and added, "The Korean government’s position is to develop healthy bilateral relations with China based on mutual respect and common interests," emphasizing, "There should be no actions that go against the development of such healthy relations."