"Kishida Coordinates Japan-South Korea Summit at NATO Meeting... Explains Contaminated Water Discharge"

Plan for Meeting with President Yoon at NATO Conference on the 11th
Foreign Minister Hayashi Also Expected to Persuade Korean and Chinese Diplomats

As the discharge of contaminated water from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean enters its final countdown, it is reported that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is coordinating a meeting with President Yoon Suk-yeol. This move is interpreted as an effort to ease strong opposition related to the contaminated water discharge issue and to seek cooperation.

On the 5th, the Mainichi Shimbun reported that Prime Minister Kishida is pushing for a separate meeting with President Yoon during the NATO summit to be held in Lithuania on the 11th and 12th of this month. South Korea, as an Asia-Pacific partner country of NATO, was invited to the summit again this year following last year.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Mainichi stated that Prime Minister Kishida will directly explain the process and safety of the contaminated water discharge to President Yoon. Mainichi mentioned, "Prime Minister Kishida plans to explain this to President Yoon and seek his understanding," adding, "There is considerable opposition to the ocean discharge in South Korea, and attention is focused on how President Yoon will respond."

This indicates that Japan's efforts to appease neighboring countries ahead of the discharge have begun. After the IAEA released a report stating that Japan's contaminated water discharge meets international standards, Prime Minister Kishida also stated, "Based on scientific evidence, we will explain politely and with high transparency both domestically and internationally." Since the IAEA has granted credibility, the Japanese government is expected to accelerate its persuasion efforts.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is also coordinating schedules to hold separate meetings with Qin Gang, China's Foreign Minister, and Park Jin, South Korea's Foreign Minister, in line with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in mid-June. Like Prime Minister Kishida, Foreign Minister Hayashi will explain the plan for the contaminated water ocean discharge and work to persuade opposition.

Jiji Press reported, "China is strongly opposing the contaminated water discharge. South Korea also has significant concerns," and added, "Foreign Minister Hayashi plans to explain Japan's plan based on the IAEA report."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Japan has virtually completed all preparations for the discharge. On this day, the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan announced that it will issue a certificate of inspection completion on the 7th, confirming that the final inspection verifying the performance of the contaminated water ocean discharge facilities has been passed.

The Regulatory Authority shared the inspection results confirming no issues with the facilities, including pumps that draw seawater for diluting the contaminated water, emergency shut-off valves that stop discharge in case of problems, and the undersea tunnel, and made this judgment.

Public broadcaster NHK reported, "With this, all necessary facilities for the discharge are prepared," and added, "The government plans to explain the contents of the IAEA report both inside and outside Japan and make a final decision on the specific timing of the discharge, scheduled for this summer."