Salt rush in South Korea. The upcoming discharge of polluted water from Fukushima off the Japanese coast is worrying the 52 million residents of the peninsula, who have begun stockpiling in recent weeks. In Seoul, in particular, entire salt rays were washed away, according to Reuters. The lucky ones who find some buy them by the kilos.
Korean salt is collected on the coasts of the country, which is bordered by Japanese waters, where the Japanese government intends to discharge, treat and soften the water, from the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, which in 2011 was hit by the triple disaster of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident. The plant site now holds 1.33 million tons of polluted water, and it will soon reach saturation. The decision to drain this water was approved on Tuesday by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
sequel after announcement
Pacific nation protests
If, in the eyes of the Japanese government, this decision of the agency reinforces the legitimacy of this plan, then the numerous demonstrations against the project that have taken place in recent months testify to the concerns of South Korea. And it is not the only country that opposes and fears the consequences of this refusal.
From China to Pacific countries, many voices are being raised. Middle Kingdom denounces the decision unilaterally. ” IAEA report fails to legitimize Japan’s seawater disposal plan’Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in a statement.
Fukushima, 10 years later: “We still have high levels of pollution in some places”
Greenpeace also strongly opposes the project and Japan’s fishing communities fear its efforts to reassure customers will falter. These have endured years of suspicion despite extensive testing of their traps. Reputational damage (from their products) It’s the biggest worry.”A spokesman for the Fukushima Fisheries Association told AFP.
asked the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Henry Bona “More time and plenty of precautions.”
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“There are still concerns at home and abroad (…) and we want the government to do more.”
Japan is trying to reassure its neighbors
On Wednesday, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, traveled to Fukushima. He is then expected to be in South Korea and a few neighboring countries, intending to reassure regions that feel threatened.
In an effort to change public opinion in Japan and abroad, the Japanese government resorted to drastic measures, inviting delegations and the media to the Fukushima power plant, where guests were able to observe the treated and softened water pools where fish swim.
Technical briefings have also been held for neighbors such as South Korea, but Tokyo said calls to China went unanswered.
Drainage of water from the nuclear site, which is supposed to last for several decades, “It requires a lot of explanation. And we are ready to do that.” Shinichi Sato of the Japanese Foreign Ministry told AFP.
