South Korea's Deputy National Security Advisor Kim Tae-hyu confirmed on Thursday that "the country is coordinating with Japan to hold a meeting between their leaders on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Lithuania next week." He stated that "President Yoon Suk-yeol will depart Seoul on Monday for a tour that will include a visit to Poland."
He told reporters, "We are coordinating with Japan to hold a summit between Japan and South Korea during this overseas trip." The upcoming meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is likely to address Japan's plans to discharge treated radioactive water from the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.
The International Atomic Energy Agency stated on Tuesday, after a two-year review, that Japan's plans align with global safety standards and that the radiation impact on people and the environment will be "negligible." South Korea announced it will release its own assessment of the water discharge plan tomorrow, Friday.
Separately, Kim noted that Yoon will hold meetings with leaders from Japan, Australia, and New Zealand on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
