Rafael Grossi: The Release of Radioactive Water from Fukushima Power Plant Meets International Safety Standards

Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated on Sunday, July 9, that "it is entirely reasonable for Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant to attract significant attention in the region." According to Reuters, he also acknowledged that concerns about this plan still exist, but added that the IAEA's review published last week indicates that if the plan is implemented as scheduled, it "complies with international safety standards." On the same day, July 9, Grossi met with members of the opposition Democratic Party in South Korea, who have expressed strong public concerns about Japan's plan and criticized the IAEA's findings. Lee Sung-gun, a member of the Democratic Party of South Korea who heads a special committee on this issue, stated that the agency's findings have "shortcomings" and that widespread public concerns about safety in the country are "legitimate and reasonable." The South Korean government announced on Friday that it respects the IAEA's report and its analysis shows that the release of this news will have "no meaningful impact" on the waters of the country. Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, also criticized the plan to release treated radioactive water on Wednesday, threatening to take action if the plan proceeds. North Korea has also criticized the IAEA's support for Japan's plan, calling it "unfair" and indicative of "double standards," referencing the UN nuclear watchdog's efforts to limit Pyongyang's nuclear program. Grossi arrived in South Korea from Japan on Friday. Groups of protesting citizens criticized the plan with street demonstrations on Saturday. Since the tsunami in 2011, which severely damaged the Fukushima power plant, over one million tons of treated wastewater have been stored there. Japan now wants to start discharging this water into the Pacific Ocean. However, the country has not yet announced a date for the release of the treated radioactive water from the Fukushima plant to the ocean and is awaiting final approval from the national nuclear regulatory agency. Grossi's visit to South Korea and discussions about the release of radioactive water from the Fukushima power plant have raised concerns about the safety conditions of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. Japan observed "one minute of silence" on the twelfth anniversary of the deadly earthquake and tsunami.