IAEA chief visits Seoul amid protests over Fukushima treated water spills

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) met on Saturday with the South Korean Foreign Minister in seoulwhere hundreds of protesters denounced that Japan authorized the discharge of treated water from the fukushima.

Rafael Grossi He arrived in the South Korean capital on Friday after a trip to Japan during which his agency approved the controversial project to dump water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, where an accident occurred in 2011, into the ocean.

On Saturday, a crowd of protesters gathered in downtown Seoul to denounce the exam, according to them, “insufficient” of the IAEA, while the Argentine Rafael Grossi met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin.

They brandished banners criticizing the IAEA and accusing it of having written their report. “under the influence of Japan”.

Grossi defended himself on Saturday by presenting a “very thorough” approval process.

“This is the final full report (…) No expert told me that they did not agree with the content,” he stated in an interview with the South Korean news agency Yonhap.

South Korean opposition lawmakers also mobilized against the Tokyo plan, some even going on hunger strike.

Grossi will meet members of the opposition on Sunday in Parliament.

South Korea claimsrespect” the decision of the IAEA, despite the rejection of the opposition and the growing protests in the country.

The UN agency approved this plan by the Japanese government to dispose of around 1.33 million tons of contaminated, previously treated water stored at the plant, which is close to saturation. The Fukushima plant was devastated by the tsunami that occurred on March 11, 2011.

The agency estimated Tuesday that this project “complies with international safety standards” and will have an “insignificant impact on the population and the environment.”

Japan announced that the dumping will begin this summer.

Source: AFP