Fukushima radiation becomes lightning rod in escalating South Korea-Japan feud
- South Korea will double the amount of food samples from Japan being tested for radiation, as it expresses concern about the planned release of radioactive water into the ocean
- The call for radiation checks at sporting venues potentially threatens Japan’s efforts to promote the 2020 Olympics
In recent days, South Korean officials have summoned a Japanese diplomat to express concern about a planned release of treated radioactive water into the ocean by Tepco, the plant’s owner. They are also pushing for independent radiation checks at Olympic venues and proposing a separate cafeteria for their athletes, citing concerns about contaminated food.
South Korea’s Food and Drug Safety Ministry said on Wednesday it will double the number of samples and test frequencies in inspections for radioactive substances on some processed foods and agricultural products from Japan.
Items that in the past tested positive for trace amounts of radiation and were subsequently sent back to Japan are covered by the measure. Included among them are seafood, food additives and processed foods such as chocolate, blueberries and coffee.
The radiation dispute is threatening to prolong tensions between the two US allies, who have spent much of the summer trading economic sanctions and diplomatic threats in a tit-for-tat dispute. The feud has exposed lingering mistrust and disagreements over Japan’s colonial rule on the Korean peninsula.
South Korea’s radiation concerns contrast with signs of softening attitudes last week on the anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender. Japan has also taken steps to show that its recent export controls will not prevent legitimate sales to its neighbour, with South Korean media saying on Tuesday that Tokyo approved a second license for one targeted material.
“It’s gone so far that neither side can back down,” said Hiroyuki Kishi, a former trade official turned professor at Keio University in Yokohama, adding that the disputed would probably continue “or get worse.”
“I’m concerned that Japan may respond emotionally, because the Olympics are seen as very important.”
Now, Tokyo Electric Power Co is preparing a release from on-site storage tanks, which are expected to fill up by 2022 with water treated to remove most radioactive elements. An adviser for the company has recommended a controlled release into the Western Pacific – a common practice at other reactors around the world – while the environmental group Greenpeace has urged keeping the water in storage.
South Korea summoned a Japanese diplomat on Monday, with the Foreign Ministry urging Tokyo to look into international organisations’ views on the matter and be more transparent about its plans.
Separately, the Korea Sport & Olympic Committee is set to make an official request that international organisations such as Greenpeace monitor radiation at Tokyo Olympic venues, the committee’s press officer, Lee Mi-jin, said.
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The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee declined to comment on requests from other countries’ organising committees. Recent data from volunteer organisation Safecast shows that radiation levels in Tokyo are somewhat lower than those in Seoul.
For its part, South Korea is mulling whether to maintain an agreement on sharing military information with Japan. The decision could come after South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha meets her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono in Beijing on Wednesday, on the sidelines of a trilateral meeting with China.
