In Japan's neighbors, fear and frustration are shared over radioactive water release
Public fears and frustrations are being shared in Japan's neighboring countries about the release of treated radioactive wastewater from a crippled nuclear power plant
SEOUL, South Korea — Seoul office worker Kim Mijeong said she intends to stop eating seafood because she deeply mistrusts the safety of Japan’s release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea from its crippled nuclear power plant.
“We should absolutely cut back on our consumption of seafood. Actually, we can't eat it,” Kim said. “I can’t accept the Japanese plan because it’s too unilateral and is proceeding without countermeasures.”
Many foreign experts said the water discharge will have a negligible impact on the environment and human health. The International Atomic Energy Agency also said it has experts on the ground to ensure the release goes as planned. But with the discharge starting Thursday, public fears and frustration were being shared in its Asian neighbors, where many still bear strong resentment over Japan’s World War II aggression.
In response to the release, China banned seafood from Japan. Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Shu Jueting called the discharge “extremely selfish and irresponsible” and said it would «cause damage and harm to the global marine environment that cannot be predicted.”
Hong Kong and Macau said they were banning seafood from Fukushima and nine other Japanese prefectures. North Korea’s Foreign Ministry called the release a “crime against humanity” and said Japan would be wholly responsible its “catastrophic consequences.”
South Korean police detained 16 student activists Thursday for allegedly trying to enter the Japanese Embassy illegally to protest the release. The activists entered the building housing the
Read more on abcnews.go.com
