<Anchor> The Korean



government has officially proposed to Japan to form a bilateral consultative body on the issue of the treatment of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. As we are a neighboring country, additional consultations are absolutely necessary apart from verification by international organizations.



Reporter Kwak Sang-eun reports exclusively.



<Reporter> The Korean



government has proposed to Japan the formation of a bilateral consultative body regarding the problem of contaminated water at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.



The government proposal was recently officially communicated in the form of documents to Japan through diplomatic channels.



An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "As a neighboring country, the government judges that it is necessary to form a bilateral consultative body to obtain additional information on contaminated water and to hold close consultations between the two countries."



Japan has yet to give an official response, but it is known to be positively reviewing.



This is to avoid further international controversy as South Korea and China protest against the discharge of contaminated water into the ocean.



Last month, Japanese media reported that the Japanese government was considering accepting a proposal to form a bilateral consultative body if we make an official request.



A specific plan was also discussed in which the Resources and Energy Agency, which is in charge of decommissioning, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, and Tokyo Electric Power, the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, will also participate in the consultative body.



[Yang Ki-ho/Professor of Japanese Department, Sungkonghoe University: I think there must be such a result that the safety can be verified with transparent and open information. I think the confirmation of experts from both countries is necessary.]



If Japan responds, it is expected that the bilateral consultative body will be able to begin full-scale operation as early as next month after coordination between the two countries.



Apart from bilateral consultations, the government is pushing for a plan to have Korean experts participate in the IAEA verification process of the International Atomic Energy Agency.



(Video editing: Kim Ho-jin)