S. Korean nuclear expert joins IAEA monitoring group on Japan's Fukushima water discharge

 

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 The International Atomic Energy Agency has formed a group of experts to monitor Japan's planned release of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Experts from 11 countries, including South Korea, are joining the group.

South Korean nuclear energy expert  Kim Hong-suk from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety... has been included in an international IAEA expert group... that has been formed to verify the discharge of contaminated water from Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Kim is currently serving as the South Korean representative to UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation.
Experts from a total of 11 countries, including the U.S., France and China, are reportedly joining the monitoring group.
In a readout on Friday, the Korean government said it was meaningful that a Korean nuclear expert is joining the group, adding it has secured a "minimum safety catch."
It said it will make greater efforts to ensure "objective and substantive" verification on the entire process.

The government added it will tighten radioactive material monitoring in the surrounding seas and inspections of imported fishery products.
South Korea had earlier expressed "deep regrets"... over Japan's decision to dump contaminated Fukushima water into the ocean without enough consultation with its neighbors, and has been demanding that Tokyo be more transparent.

The International Atomic Energy Agency announced on Thursday that it has reached a deal with Japan... on the scope of the technical assistance needed to monitor and review the planned release of what Tokyo calls "treated water."
Under the agreed terms, the UN watchdog will examine key safety elements of the discharge plan, including the radiological characterization of the water.
Japan intends to start the release in about two years... and the entire operation could take decades.