Hundreds of South Koreans marched in Seoul on Saturday to protest Japan's plans to release treated nuclear wastewater from the tsunami-damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. Protesters called for Tokyo to abandon the plans and expressed anger towards Seoul for endorsing the discharge despite alleged food safety risks. The International Atomic Energy Agency approved the Japanese discharge plans in July, stating that the process would meet international safety standards and pose negligible environmental and health impacts. The safety of the wastewater release plans has also been advocated by the government of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. South Korea has been conducting radiation tests on seafood and beach sand to calm public fears of contamination and environmental risks. South Korean experts are also seeking to participate in the monitoring of the release process. Liberal opposition lawmakers in South Korea have accused the government of putting people's health at risk while trying to improve bilateral ties with Japan. The Democratic Party plans to file a complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Council and has urged the president to state opposition to the wastewater release during a trilateral summit later this month. The Fukushima plant's cooling systems were destroyed in a 2011 earthquake and tsunami, causing three reactors to melt and contaminate their cooling water. The treated water, which is being stored in tanks, is expected to reach capacity in early 2024. Japan first announced plans to release the water into the sea in 2018, stating that it would be diluted and released in a controlled process over decades. The water is being treated with an Advanced Liquid Processing System to reduce radioactivity levels.
Sat, 12 Aug 2023 08:55:02 GMT | ABC News