The South Korean government announced on May 5 that it has sent a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about the treatment of contaminated water containing radioactive materials that continues to accumulate at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, and that it has reported “serious concerns”. At the IAEA General Assembly to be held in Vienna from the 16th, the Korean side also announced its policy to raise this issue.
The letter expressed serious concern that the release of contaminated water into the sea could have an impact on the environment. The IAEA called for active cooperation on this issue.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan protested on the Korean government's announcement on the Korean Embassy over the phone on the 6th, saying, “It may be based on scientific grounds and may cause unfathomable damage to Japan.” (Satoshi Kamiya = Seoul, Yuka Takeshita)