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Japan's Mainichi Shimbun reported that the Japanese government has solidified its policy to release contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.
In Japan, fishermen are strongly opposed, but it is a matter that can seriously damage neighboring countries including Korea, so preparation is necessary.
Reporter Jeong Seong-jin reports.
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Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan produces 170 tons of contaminated water a day.
It is contaminated water created by mixing rainwater and groundwater into the circulating coolant that cools the nuclear fuel in the nuclear reactor during the nuclear power plant explosion caused by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
This contaminated water has been treated with a nuclear material purification device and stored in tanks on site.
However, the Mainichi Shimbun reported that the Japanese government will soon decide on a policy toward discharging this contaminated water into the sea.
This is because the tank capacity to store contaminated water is expected to reach its limit by the summer of 2022.
Earlier, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga also announced last month that he would like to visit the Fukushima nuclear power plant and decide on a policy to dispose of contaminated water as soon as possible.
The Japanese government is in the position that if it is discharged after passing through a purification system, there is no problem, but even if contaminated water passes through the purification system, some radioactive substances such as tritium will remain.
Japanese fishing groups have expressed strong opposition, saying that the discharge of contaminated water could have a devastating effect on fishing.
In addition, if the ocean is polluted by sea discharge, it will inevitably cause damage to neighboring countries, including Korea, and a great controversy is expected.