<Anchor> The



Japanese government has finally decided to flush radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.

Currently, there are 1.26 million tons of contaminated water in Japan, which is a huge amount that can fill up to 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

First, let's listen to what Japanese Prime Minister Suga said today (13th).



[Suga/Japanese Prime Minister: We decided



that it would be okay to dilute contaminated water with seawater 400 times more than 400 times, so we

decided that the ocean release (of contaminated water) would be realistic.]

It is virtually impossible to filter out hydrogen completely.

Considering that it takes about two years to install equipment and get internal approval, Japan plans to continue to dump radioactive water into the sea for 30 years from 2023.

Let's take a closer look at the background and countermeasures that Japan made this irresponsible decision without complying with the principle of handling accidents in that country within that country and without specific consultation with neighboring countries.

First connect to Tokyo.



Correspondent Yoo Seong-jae, this is not yesterday and today. What is the reason Japan decided to dump it in the sea at this point?



<Reporter>



Tokyo Electric Power, the operator, predicts that the time when the storage capacity of contaminated water in the site of the Fukushima nuclear power plant reaches its limit will be next fall.



Considering that it takes about two years to prepare for release, it is too late to decide now.



But there seems to be a political reason as well.



The decision to release contaminated water has no choice but to face intense opposition anyway, and the more it is postponed, the closer it is to the general election of the House of Representatives this fall.



Aso's remarks from the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister today drew attention.



He also said that contaminated water at the Fukushima nuclear power plant is safer than the water that Chinese or Korean nuclear power plants are discharging into the sea.



[Aso/Japan Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister: I think it would have been better if the decision had been quicker.

If you drink that water (contaminated water), nothing will happen.]




<Anchor> If



nothing happened, I could bury it in Japanese land, but I don't understand why it's dumped in the sea, but we, the neighboring country, are worried and angry like this.



<Reporter>



is also the biggest backlash from fishermen.



The pilot operation was barely resumed from last February, as it will almost certainly be hit again.



Even today, a rally was held in front of the Prime Minister's residence to protest the decision to release, and more than 300 people gathered there, making it bigger than yesterday.



Participants shouted not to pollute the sea, and strongly protested that they would turn the sea to be handed down to descendants into a nuclear dump site.



[Kataoka/Citizen's Organization'Nuclear Power Information Office': Despite many points of opinion, it is not that they are eventually dumped in the sea without any countermeasures.

I can't forgive it!]



They promised in writing that the government and TEPCO would not decide to release it without the understanding of fishermen and other officials five years ago, and accused the public of disregarding the decision to release it without a public hearing.



(Video coverage: Han Cheol-min·Moon Hyun-jin, Video editing: Lee Seung-yeol)