South Korean expert team inspecting Fukushima treated water sees further analysis needed

May 31. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The team of South Korean experts in charge of inspecting the treated water from the Japanese plant in Fukushima indicated on Wednesday that it sees it necessary to carry out more analysis to reach a “more concrete” conclusion on the matter, which has aroused controversy in both countries.

The group, made up of 21 people and led by Yoo Geun Hee, returned to South Korea on Friday after completing a series of inspections during a six-day trip to Japan, which plans to release the treated water into the sea this summer.

“This inspection has made significant progress in technological and scientific matters. However, we plan to carry out additional analysis for a more certain conclusion,” Yoo told the Yonhap news agency.

The objective of the delegation is to review the safety of the entire process of dumping this water into the sea and to analyze Tokyo’s ability to test the radioactive materials in question.

During their trip, the team spent two days inspecting the plant’s facilities, especially the purification systems, known as ALPS, and the facilities related to the K4 tanks, designed to store radioactive substances.

In this sense, the members have confirmed that Japan “has installed the necessary material in accordance with the provisions” and have indicated that emergency valves have been installed that will close automatically in the event of a sudden power cut.

This was the first independent inspection of its kind by South Korean experts and followed a meeting between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida earlier this month.