The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Man who opened plane door says he wanted to get off quickly: police

  • 3

    US urged to respect Korea's position amid US-China chip war

  • 5

    Annual K pop-concert comes to Busan, featuring BTOB, ITZY, Nmixx and more

  • 7

    Korean literature in translation enjoys growing universal appeal

  • 9

    Can Seoul succeed in transforming Yeouido into a global financial hub?

  • 11

    Man allegedly murders girlfriend shortly after release from police custody in dating violence probe

  • 13

    Korea plays 10-man Honduras to draw at U-20 World Cup, knockout fate up in air

  • 15

    Stray Kids, NCT's Taeyong, ATEEZ gear up for June releases

  • 17

    Suspect held after four killed in Japan gun and knife attack

  • 19

    About 3,000 Korean tourists stranded in Guam due to Typhoon Mawar aftermath

  • 2

    INTERVIEW'No more part-time jobs': VANNER talks about life after winning 'Peak Time'

  • 4

    76th Cannes Film Festival

  • 6

    Traditional markets catch on with foreign tourists, young consumers

  • 8

    INTERVIEWHow 'bojagi' helped adoptee reconnect with Korean roots

  • 10

    Gen MZ shifts to thrifty mindset amid high cost of living

  • 12

    INTERVIEWAs Georgia marks Independence Day, new ambassador vows to bolster ties

  • 14

    INTERVIEWFormer UK gang member shares hard-learned lessons to prevent youth violence

  • 16

    Unification ministry's NK report disclaimer creates controversy

  • 18

    Nuri's main payload NEXTSAT-2 enters orbit, makes communication with Earth

  • 20

    Chinese carmakers challenge Hyundai Motor, Kia in global markets

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sun, May 28, 2023 | 15:33
Business
Korea may sue Japan for mishandling leaks
"일본과 우리나라 수산물 방사능 검사결과 불일치"
Posted : 2013-09-10 18:06
Updated : 2013-09-10 18:06
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By Kim Tae-jong

The government will be able to take legal action against Japanese authorities if the latter continues to leak radioactive water into the ocean which could affect marine life in Korean seas, experts said, Tuesday.

Their view is a response to the recent leaks of highly toxic water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which has fuelled concern here over possible environmental impacts.

"Our government can demand Japan provide us with timely and detailed information about water leaks from the nuclear power plant, and also to stop leaking radioactive water," said Kim Young-sok, a law school professor at Ewha Womans University. "It is necessary to take every possible precautionary action, as radiation damage can be irreversible and may be much larger than we expect."

But if Tokyo fails to meet this request, Seoul should consider taking the case to the international courts, he said.

"This can be the violation of International Maritime Law (IML)," he said. "Even merchants at local fish markets who have seen a drastic drop in sales due to the perceived health risks from fishery products can be compensated if they can prove they have been affected."

According to the IML, affected neighboring countries must have been informed and consulted before Japan decided to leak radioactive water into the ocean as it could have a significant impact on the environment, he said.

The world's nuclear watchdog has voiced its concern over radioactive water leaks, urging Japan to explain more clearly what is happening at Fukushima.

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano was quoted as saying the leakage is "a matter of high priority that needs to be addressed urgently," promising to send an international mission to assess the situation, Tuesday, during a news conference after the IAEA board of governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, Monday (local time).

A recent legal dispute between Ireland and U.K. has been cited as an example.

Ireland began a legal challenge against the British government over its decision to approve a new nuclear plant in England, arguing the Irish people should have been consulted before the UK government granted approval given its impact as the proposed plant is as close to the Irish coast as it is to London.

Ireland argues that affected EU members states must be informed and consulted during the planning stage of certain infrastructure projects that could have a significant impact on the environment.

Lee Seok-woo, a law school professor at Inha University, also pointed out that it is necessary to review whether Japan breached an international convention or protocol.

Korea and Japan have joined the "London Convention and Protocol" which aims to protect the marine environment from human activities and to take all practicable steps to prevent pollution of the sea by the dumping of wastes and other matter.

The London convention, however, allows emergency dumping or incineration at sea.

The International Maritime Organization also said the convention only covers disposal into the sea of waste or other matter from vessels, aircraft, platforms or other man-made structures at sea and if it comes from land, this comes under international legislation.

It is obvious that Korea will be affected by the water leak from the tsunami-hit power plant, although there are disputes on the level of the health risk.

The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, affiliated with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, has recently announced that the radioactive water could affect marine life in Korean seas as early as next year.




"일본과 우리나라 수산물 방사능 검사결과 불일치"

일본이 실시하는 수산물 방사능 검사 결과가 우리나라 식품안전당국의 검사결과와 상당 부분 일치하지 않는다는 지적이 나왔다.

 9일 국회 보건복지위원회 소속 남윤인순(민주당) 의원이 식품의약품안전처로부터 제출받은 '일본산 수입수산물 방사능 검출 현황'을 보면, 일본이 방사성 물질이 검출되지 않았다는 검사증명서를 제출한 64건 가운데 62건(96.9%)에서 방사성 물질이 검출됐다.

 일본과 우리나라의 검사 결과, 공통으로 방사성 물질이 검출된 경우는 전체의 3.1%인 2건에 불과했다.

 식약처는 후쿠시마 원전 사고 이후 일본산 수입수산물 131건에서 기준치 이하의 방사능 세슘과 요오드를 검출했다. 이 가운데 방사능검사증명서를 제출한 것은 64건(48.5%)이었으며, 나머지 67건은 지정된 16개 현 이외 지역에서 수입된 수산물이었다.

 남윤인순 의원은 '일본측 방사능검사결과와 우리의 검사결과가 심각한 불일치를 보이는 것은 큰 문제'라며 '부산 감천항검사소의 검사 전담인력을 늘려 안전관리를 강화해야 한다'고 말했다.

 이에 대해 식약처는 '일본에서 10Bq/㎏ 이하의 방사성 물질이 나오면 불검출로 처리해 국내 검사결과와 일치하지 않는 경우가 있었다'며 '일본 정부에 불검출 기준을 강화해달라고 요구한 이후 부터는 이 같은 문제가 거의 일어나지 않고 있다'고 해명했다.

 
Emaile3dward@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1US urged to respect Korea's position amid US-China chip war US urged to respect Korea's position amid US-China chip war
2Chinese carmakers challenge Hyundai Motor, Kia in global markets Chinese carmakers challenge Hyundai Motor, Kia in global markets
3Calls grow for regulations on AI technology on webcomicsCalls grow for regulations on AI technology on webcomics
4CJ, Shinsegae study temple food to expand vegan lineup CJ, Shinsegae study temple food to expand vegan lineup
5Africa Day celebrated in Korea with book talkAfrica Day celebrated in Korea with book talk
6[INTERVIEW] Korean chef aims to change Hong Kong's dining sceneINTERVIEWKorean chef aims to change Hong Kong's dining scene
7Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 Part 4 - Gaeseong's passive defiance Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 Part 4 - Gaeseong's passive defiance
8ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry? ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry?
9POSCO named sustainability champion for 2nd consecutive year POSCO named sustainability champion for 2nd consecutive year
10Labor unions seek to attract migrant workers at shipyards Labor unions seek to attract migrant workers at shipyards
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Stray Kids, NCT's Taeyong, ATEEZ gear up for June releases Stray Kids, NCT's Taeyong, ATEEZ gear up for June releases
2[INTERVIEW] 'No more part-time jobs': VANNER talks about life after winning 'Peak Time' INTERVIEW'No more part-time jobs': VANNER talks about life after winning 'Peak Time'
3Competing to get married? 'Physical:100' writer to roll out marriage survival show Competing to get married? 'Physical:100' writer to roll out marriage survival show
4Ma Dong-seok goes all out to create iconic action hero in 'The Outlaws' threequel Ma Dong-seok goes all out to create iconic action hero in 'The Outlaws' threequel
5All-female cast 'Siren: Survive the Island' to challenge prevailing biases All-female cast 'Siren: Survive the Island' to challenge prevailing biases
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group