Kishida Takes Final Step in Contaminated Water Discharge... Meets Opposing Fishermen (Comprehensive)

Meeting with the President of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives and Fukushima Fishermen's Representatives to Persuade
Ministerial Meeting Likely Tomorrow to Decide Release Date

Contamination Dispute Also Domestically
Opposition: "Why Wasn't It Discussed in the Korea-Japan Summit?"
Claims of Kishida Showing Consideration for Yoon

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with representatives of fishermen from the Fukushima region, and news emerged that a specific date for the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant will be decided, signaling that the Japanese government's release of contaminated water is entering the final countdown. As South Korea and neighboring countries face the contaminated water issue head-on and controversies over the discharge grow, political parties in South Korea are also showing signs of intensified political strife, with both ruling and opposition parties raising mutual responsibility arguments.

According to Japanese media such as Asahi Shimbun and Mainichi Shimbun on the 21st, Prime Minister Kishida planned to meet with Masanobu Sakamoto, chairman of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations (hereafter referred to as the Fisheries Cooperative), along with representatives of fishermen from Fukushima Prefecture. It is also known that the Cabinet is coordinating to formally decide the timing of the discharge at a ministerial meeting scheduled for the following day, the 22nd.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on the 20th ahead of the release of contaminated water (referred to as "treated water" by the Japanese government) into the ocean and received an explanation. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Fisheries Cooperative has adopted resolutions opposing the Japanese government's discharge of contaminated water for four consecutive years. At the general meeting on the 22nd of last month, they expressed their stance that "our opposition to the discharge remains unchanged." The Japanese government has maintained the position that it must obtain the Fisheries Cooperative's consent. Since the government announced in 2015 that "no disposal related to contaminated water will be carried out without the consent of fishermen and other stakeholders," the final consent of these parties is required before the discharge can begin.

Mainichi reported that "Prime Minister Kishida plans to explain the safety of the contaminated water discharge and thoroughly implement measures against misinformation (fake news) to gain the understanding of fishermen." The day before, Kishida told reporters, "I have heard concerns from fishermen about their livelihoods," and added, "I want to directly convey the government's thoughts to the fishermen."

Asahi Shimbun reported that during the meeting, Prime Minister Kishida plans to coordinate with the Fisheries Cooperative on the start date for the contaminated water discharge and decide on a specific discharge date at the ministerial meeting the following day. Citing a Japanese government official, Asahi Shimbun stated, "Kishida will explain the safety of the contaminated water and the damage caused by misinformation to the nationwide Fisheries Cooperative," and "he is considering conveying the specific timing of the discharge, expected by the end of August." Accordingly, the Japanese government's discharge of contaminated water is expected to begin by the end of this month.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is visiting the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on the 20th to inspect the discharge facilities. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Japanese government is determined to set a definite discharge date, with Prime Minister Kishida personally inspecting the Fukushima nuclear power plant's discharge facilities. The day before, Kishida visited the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, inspected the discharge equipment, and held a meeting with Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) executives, urging, "The government and TEPCO must proceed with a sense of tension and a resolve not to betray trust."

Tomoki Kobayakawa, president of TEPCO, also revealed plans related to compensation for fishermen. At a meeting with Prime Minister Kishida on the 20th, he stated, "We will establish a project team directly under the president to oversee departments related to the power plant, misinformation countermeasures, and fishermen's compensation, so that TEPCO management can quickly grasp information and issue instructions," emphasizing, "We will assign executives responsible for misinformation countermeasures and compensation issues, with the headquarters taking charge."

Opposition parties in Japan have expressed strong opposition to the contaminated water discharge. Katsuya Okada, secretary-general of the Constitutional Democratic Party, told reporters in Sendai the day before, "I don't know why the Prime Minister went to Fukushima," criticizing, "In the end, nothing has been clarified, only increasing public distrust. The political responsibility is heavy."

Currently, Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the Komeito Party, the coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said, "The timing of the (contaminated water) discharge should be discussed from all perspectives and a wise decision made. The government must repeatedly strive to reassure fishermen," emphasizing that the discharge should not be pushed through recklessly.

(From left) President Yoon Suk-yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pose at Camp David, the U.S. President's retreat, where the Korea-U.S.-Japan summit was held on the 18th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

In South Korea's political sphere, the ruling and opposition parties are clashing over the contaminated water discharge issue. The opposition criticized that the issue was not addressed during the Korea-Japan summit. Park Sung-jun, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out, "There were reports in Japanese media that the reason the contaminated water discharge issue was not discussed at the Korea-Japan summit was to 'consider Prime Minister Kishida's feelings toward President Yoon Suk-yeol,'" and questioned, "What exactly has our government done?"

On the other hand, the ruling party dismissed the opposition's raising of the contaminated water issue as 'fake news.' Park Dae-chul, chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party, wrote on social media, "The Democratic Party and left-wing camps are spreading absurd 'contaminated water' fake news while framing it as 'pro-Japanese' and talking about 'handouts,'" and countered, "The Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation system is a new journey toward peace and the future of the Korean Peninsula, overcoming loneliness and ridicule."