Japan’s industry minister visited the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant on Monday to see equipment that would be used in the planned release of treated radioactive water into the sea to ensure the safety of the controversial plan, while demonstrators, including many from South Korea, rallied against it.
The Japanese government defended the neutrality of the United Nations nuclear agency’s final report that concluded Japan’s water release plan met international safety standards, denying allegations that Japan pressured the International Atomic Energy Agency into publishing only favorable results.
The government and TEPCO say the water must be removed to prevent any accidental leaks and make room for the plant’s decommissioning, and hope to start releasing the water this summer. Ju Cheol Hyeon, a South Korean lawmaker, said Japan should apologize to the world for releasing “the Fukushima disaster high-level nuclear waste into the sea,” and demanded an immediate withdrawal of the plan.
Some opponents at home and neighboring South Korea have accused Japan, one of the top donors to the IAEA, of pressuring the agency into publishing only positive reviews in its report. Nishimura told reporters Friday that the government will determine when to start the water release “by ensuring the safety and taking into consideration the progress of measures against reputational damage.”
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
IAEA chief says 'absolutely logical' that Japan's Fukushima water release is attracting interestIt is 'absolutely logical' that Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from its Fukushima nuclear plant is attracting great interest in the region, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said on Sunday.
Read more »
IAEA chief says 'absolutely logical' Japan's Fukushima water release draws interestIt is 'absolutely logical' that Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from its Fukushima nuclear plant is attracting great interest in the region, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said on Sunday.
Read more »
IAEA chief's South Korea visit draws protests over Fukushima water releaseHundreds of protesters took to the streets of Seoul on Saturday during a visit to South Korea by the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog aimed at calming fears over Japan's plan to discharge treated radioactive water from its tsunami-hit Fukushima plant.
Read more »
N. Korea slams IAEA for Fukushima water approvalThe plan to release Fukushima wastewater has raised concerns in neighbouring countries, prompting China to ban some food imports and sparking protests in South Korea.
Read more »
New Zealand confident about IAEA advice on Fukushima water release planNew Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta told the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday that her government has full confidence in the IAEA’s advice on the proposed Fukushima treated water release.
Read more »
South Korean lawmakers berate IAEA chief over Japanese plans to release treated Fukushima wastewaterSouth Korean opposition lawmakers have sharply criticized the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog for its approval of Japanese plans to release treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Read more »