The Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, stated on Sunday that it is "completely logical" for Japan's plan to discharge treated radioactive water from its Fukushima nuclear reactor to receive significant attention in the region.
Grossi acknowledged that concerns about the plan remain, but added that a review conducted by the IAEA last week concluded that it "meets international safety standards" if implemented according to the plan.
He met with members of opposition parties in South Korea on Sunday, who expressed strong public concerns about Japan's plan and criticized the IAEA's findings.
Grossi stated at the meeting, "The issue before us today has attracted a lot of attention, and this is completely logical because the actions and the way Japan will handle this matter have important implications."
A member of the Democratic Party, Y. Seong-jun, who heads a special committee on the matter, asserted that the IAEA's findings are "flawed," and that the widespread public concerns about safety in his country are "legitimate and reasonable."
The party member told Grossi, "We regret that the IAEA concluded that the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant meets international standards."
Grossi was met with angry protests from civil groups upon his arrival in South Korea on Friday, coming from Japan, and street demonstrations were held on Saturday to criticize the plan.
The South Korean government stated that it respects the IAEA's report and that its own analysis found that the discharge of radioactive water would have "no significant impact" on its waters.
North Korea criticized the IAEA's support for Japan's plan on Sunday, describing it as "unfair" and indicative of "double standards," referring to the agency's efforts to curb Pyongyang's nuclear program. North Korea is under sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council due to its conduct of six underground nuclear tests.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin also criticized the water discharge move on Wednesday, threatening to take action if the plan proceeds.
