South Korea to fight Japan’s Fukushima decision at world tribunal

SEOUL: South Korea’s president ordered officials yesterday to explore petitioning an international court over Japan’s decision to release contaminated water from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, amid protests by fisheries and environmental groups.

According to plans unveiled by Japan on Tuesday, the release of more than one million tonnes of contaminated water into the sea from the plant crippled by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011 will start in about two years after filtering it to remove harmful isotopes.

The plan drew immediate opposition from its neighbours South Korea, China and Taiwan.

South Korea strongly protested against the decision, summoning

Koichi Aiboshi, Tokyo’s ambassador in Seoul, and convening an intra-agency emergency meeting to craft its response.

President Moon Jae-in said officials should look into ways to refer Japan’s move to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, including filing for an injunction, his spokesman Kang Min-seok told a briefing.

Moon also expressed concerns about Japan’s plans as Aiboshi presented his credentials.

Japan’s ambassador arrived in South Korea in February to take up his post.

“I cannot but say that there are many concerns here about the decision as a country that is geologically closest and shares the sea with Japan,” Moon said, asking

Aiboshi to convey such worries to Tokyo, according to Kang.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it had raised similar concerns with the US, after the State Department said Japan’s decision was “transparent” and in line with global safety standards.

The ministry also said it shared “strong regret and serious concerns” about the water’s planned release at a video conference yesterday with Chinese officials on maritime issues.

A series of protests against the move by politicians, local officials, fishermen and environmental activists took place in South Korea yesterday, including in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul and consulates in the port city of Busan and on Jeju island. – AFP