Government’s diplomatic capacity under fire
Seoul considers taking radioactive water issue to international tribunal
In the wake of Japan’s decision to release radioactive water from the disabled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, the Korean government is taking flak for its laid-back response, compared with Tokyo’s thorough preparation for the planned discharge.
Amid growing criticism of the government’s poor handling of the issue, President Moon Jae-in expressed his concerns to the new Japanese ambassador to Seoul, Wednesday, about dumping water containing tritium, a radioactive isotope byproduct of nuclear fission, into the Pacific Ocean, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
Presidential spokesman Kang Minseok said, “Moon told Aiboshi that there was great concern over Japan’s decision to release radioactive water as the two nations are geographically close to each other and share the sea.”
His remark was made during talks following a ceremony to receive Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Aiboshi’s credentials at Cheong Wa Dae.
“He asked the ambassador to deliver the concerns of the Korean government and the people over the water’s discharge to the Japanese government,” Kang added.
The spokesman also said the President instructed his officials during a meeting held earlier in the day to review taking the matter to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
On Tuesday, the Japanese government approved a plan to dump over 1.23 million tons of radioactive wastewater stored in the plant’s tanks into the Pacific Ocean starting 2023, leading the Korean government to voice strong regret over the decision.
The radioactive cooling water has been collected and stored on site ever since the nuclear plant was damaged by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 2011. Korea became aware of the water discharge plan in 2018 and formed a pan-governmental taskforce, but it has failed to come up with practical and realistic ways to oppose it and secure cooperation from the international community, as evidenced by the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) endorsing Japan’s decision.
Regarding the ocean release as a matter of Japan’s sovereignty, the Korean government has mainly focused on verifying all procedures for dumping the contaminated water into the ocean. In addition, it allegedly sought a plan to form a verification team composed of multinational experts, including Koreans.
“As the dumping will occur in Japan’s inland sea, not international waters, we have no practical measures to stop Japan from discharging the radioactive water,” a foreign ministry official said.
“We have shared relevant information with Japan and the IAEA, so we thought the decision would be made after more discussions.”
In addition, the Korean government criticized Japan, saying the decision was made unilaterally without full consultation with relevant countries.
However, the Japanese Embassy in Korea issued a statement refuting the ministry’s criticism of a lack of discussion. It was released after its Ambassador to Seoul Koichi Aiboshi was summoned to the foreign ministry, later Tuesday.
“The decision was made after multiple discussions with representatives from many countries, including Korea,” the embassy said.
The embassy also said its government held more than 100 briefing sessions for diplomats in Tokyo.
Korea’s failure to gain support from the international community is another blow to the Moon government.
The U.S. said Japan has been “transparent about its decision” and “appears to have adopted an approach in accordance with globally accepted nuclear safety standards.” The IAEA also welcomed the decision, calling it a “milestone” that will help pave the way for continued progress in the decommissioning of the nuclear plant.
The government has expressed its intention to participate in an IAEA verification team that will investigate the safety of the radioactive water after it is dumped. However, it remains to be seen if Korea will join, as team selection is the IAEA’s independent right and the water discharge will occur two years later, while a discussion of the verification team has not yet begun in earnest.
Despite its strong protest, Korea has a few options such as reinforcing radiation testing on imported food products and inspections of supply chain origins for food imports.
“I am furious about what the government has done so far about the issue that is directly linked to the people’s safety,” Rep. Joo Ho-young, the acting leader of the main opposition People Power Party, said Wednesday.
Shin Beom-chul, director of the Center for Diplomacy and Security at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said, “The government needs to join forces with countries that will be immediately affected by the radioactive water such as China, Taiwan and Russia to reflect their position on Japan’s decision.”