China News Service, April 21, reported that South Korean Foreign Minister Zheng Yirong once again emphasized on the 20th that he would resolutely oppose Japan's discharge of Fukushima nuclear sewage into the sea.
At the same time, South Korea has upgraded its radiation testing standards for Japanese aquatic products.
Earlier, Zheng Yirong stated on the 19th that if the Japanese side handles it in accordance with the standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), South Korea does not have to insist on opposing it.
He explained that on the same day, some views believe that the South Korean government is totally opposed to Japan-related issues, but this is not the case. Therefore, the above statement was made to emphasize that if the Japanese side’s actions really meet the relevant conditions, the South Korean side need not. Persist in opposition.
The three conditions mentioned by Zheng Yirong include that Japan must provide South Korea with scientific evidence that can ensure the safety and health of South Korean citizens, conduct consultations with South Korea in advance, and ensure that South Korean experts participate in the IAEA verification process.
He also said that according to the understanding of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, only the United States currently has a positive attitude towards Japan's emission decision.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked the US to explain its scientific basis for using the term "treated water" instead of "polluted water", and the basis for determining that Japan has decided to be transparent and in line with global safety standards.
Zheng Yirong emphasized that Japan’s emission decision may cause catastrophic consequences for Pacific Rim countries. South Korea will actively promote South Korea’s position to these countries and put Japan’s decision into public opinion on the international stage.
He also pointed out that the issue is difficult to resolve through "quiet diplomacy".
As early as 2018, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Japan was considering discharging the Fukushima nuclear sewage to the sea and began to study plans to file a lawsuit against Japan in the International Court of Justice.
If Japan fails to fulfill its obligations under international law, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may initiate legal procedures.
In addition, according to reports, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said on the 20th that he hoped that South Korean experts would participate in the international inspection team that supervised Japan’s discharge of nuclear waste water into the sea.
According to South Korea’s "Joongang Ilbo" report, after the Japanese government decided to discharge polluted water from nuclear power plants, local governments in South Korea have repeatedly erupted in protests over the past few days.
Local governments in Jeju, Busan, Ulsan, and Pohang all believe that once people's consumption psychology for aquatic products is sluggish, it will cause a huge blow to the regional economy.
On April 19, 2021, the director of the Korean Food and Drug Safety Division, King Kongli, went to Busan to inspect the radiation energy testing of Japanese aquatic products.
The Korean Food and Drug Administration stated that “South Korea has strengthened the radiation detection standards for Japanese aquatic products since January.” Simply put, it is to extend the radiation measurement time from 1,800 seconds to 10,000 seconds to improve accuracy and reduce radioactive substances The detection standard of cesium has been enhanced from 0.5 becquerel to 0.3 becquerel.
The Food and Drug Administration further explained that among the countries that import Japanese aquatic products, South Korea is the only country that bans imports as long as the radiation value exceeds 1 becquerel in the product.