South Korea officially approves Japan’s plan to release water from Fukushima

South Korea today officially gave the green light to Japan’s plan to release wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. The AP news agency reported the development. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had also previously approved the plan. But its chief, Rafael Grossi, said today that the views of IAEA experts apparently were not unanimous.

Seoul’s assessment was based on 22 months of monitoring by scientists, who agreed that the impact of radioactive water on the South Korean sea would be „negligible“. According to South Korean government officials, contamination of seawater will remain within the limits set by safety standards.

Despite assurances from the authorities, however, skepticism persists in South Korea, the AP news agency wrote. Shops, for example, are reporting increased sales of sea salt, and the opposition has accused the government of endangering South Koreans’ health in an effort to improve relations with Tokyo.

The safety of the radioactive water has been a sensitive issue between Seoul and Tokyo for several years. The two countries have also been trying in recent months to repair relations strained by historical grievances, and to work together on issues such as North Korea and China.

An IAEA panel also previously weighed in on Japan’s plan to release radioactive water into the ocean. It included 11 experts from various countries, including China, the plan’s most vocal critic. Grossi said today, however, that one or two experts had apparently expressed concerns.

The Fukushima nuclear power plant was damaged by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. It was one of the worst nuclear accidents in history. The release of the water, which Japan will dilute beforehand, is expected to take 30 to 40 years.